President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday assured World War II veterans that her administration is continuously working to provide and secure their long-overdue benefits, including the US$ 190-million compensation package from the United States government.
The President made the assurance to some 200 war veterans during the Filipino World War II Veterans Assembly this afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Among those present were National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, national president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator and DND Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina of the Department of National Defense.
During her visit to the United States, the President said she told US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki that many Filipino veterans look forward to the speedy implementation of the $ 190-million compensation package, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama this year.
“And he (Shinseki) replied that his department, if needed, will hire additional personnel to fast track the claims,” the President said.
The US Embassy in Manila started accepting applications for the lump-sum payments of $ 15,000 for veterans who have become US citizens and $ 9,000 for non-US citizens.
The President noted that the first payment was already made last April 8 but more than 31,000 filed their claims at the PVAO compared to the US estimate that only about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
The President said Secretary Teodoro will follow up with Secretary Shinseki to expedite the processing of the claims of Filipino war veterans.
The President said Secretary Shinseki also told her that the U.S. government is already providing some $ 17 million a month to Filipino war veterans and their families.
“Outside of the new veterans’ benefits, his (Shinseki’s) department is also disbursing funds to veterans and their families, including death pensions totaling $ 17 million a month,” the President stressed.
She told the Filipino war veterans that the US government is also providing an MRI facility to the Philippine Veterans Hospital.
The President likewise instructed Secretary Teodoro to study the possibility of establishing vital medical equipment in areas where many war veterans reside.
According to the President, she has instructed Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to pay the total administrative liability, including pension arrears, to World War II veterans for this year.
In closing, the President thanked Shinseki, U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and everyone who made contributions to facilitate the passage of the $ 190-million lump sum package. (PIA)
