VZCZCXRO6216
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0544/01 0701000
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111000Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3490
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/VA CENTRAL OFC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000544 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAID PINR PREL PHUM KISL RP
SUBJECT: PROMISE OF BENEFITS DRAWS HUGE RESPONSE FROM 
FILIPINO VETERANS 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  With the February 17 passage of the 
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Filipino veterans who 
served under the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II became 
eligible for the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation 
benefit.  In three weeks since the bill was signed into law, 
more than 19,000 claimants in the Philippines have submitted 
applications for the benefit, and the Mission expects to 
disburse the first payments to Filipino veterans in 
mid-April.  The Embassy's Veterans Affairs employees began 
accepting applications on the day the legislation was signed 
and rendered extraordinary service, establishing 12 temporary 
provincial claim centers throughout the country, answering 
thousands of telephone calls, and ensuring that Filipino 
veterans were treated with dignity and respect in their 
interactions with Embassy staff.  Media have covered the 
issue intensely.  Strong outreach by the Ambassador and 
Embassy staff has contributed to a generally positive 
reaction to the Filipino veterans being granted the lump-sum 
benefit, and recent press reports have focused on individual 
recipients and the human interest angle.  Some editorials 
have commented negatively on the benefit, and some Philippine 
politicians, while enthusiastic about the benefit, could not 
resist attempting to curry favor with Filipino veterans 
groups by lamenting how long it took to "right a historic 
wrong."    Although more than 30,000 applicants are expected 
to petition for benefits, only an estimated 12,000 will be 
eligible, and invalidation of many claims appears inevitable. 
 The Mission is working actively to emphasize the high 
quality of service veterans are receiving and mitigate any 
potential fallout from applicants who are denied benefits. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
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MANILA VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  Since the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was 
signed into law on February 17, the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs Manila Regional Office (USDVA Manila) has 
received more than 19,000 applications for the Filipino 
Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) benefit, a provision of 
the legislation.  Approximately 18,000 surviving Filipino 
veterans who fought with the U.S. Armed Forces during World 
War II are eligible for the benefit, and an estimated 12,000 
of them live in the Philippines.  The total funding 
authorized for both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens was 
$198 million, with U.S. citizens receiving $15,000 and 
non-U.S. citizens receiving $9,000. 
 
¶3.  (U)  Anticipating a large response from the local veteran 
community with which they have long and deep ties, USDVA 
Manila personnel prepared in advance to accept applications 
the day the legislation was enacted.  Although veterans 
flooded to the Embassy by the hundreds in the first two days 
following the announcement, close interagency cooperation 
allowed for proper facilities and security to be established. 
 The Embassy's Consular Section made space available in its 
waiting area to get hundreds of people out of the heat and 
into a safe area, and USDVA staff attended to the elderly 
veterans to ensure they were treated with dignity and respect. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Embassy Manila has the only U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs office outside of U.S. territory, and the 
office has sole jurisdiction for adjudicating FVEC claims, 
regardless of where the claimant resides.  For many years, 
the USDVA Manila staff has cultivated a close relationship 
with the Filipino veterans community.  The depth of this 
relationship was evident in the commitment USDVA staff showed 
in their efforts to facilitate and streamline the application 
process. 
 
¶5.  (U)  By February 23, the USDVA Manila staff had worked 
with the Philippine government's Veterans Affairs Office to 
set up 12 temporary provincial offices throughout the country 
and 3 centers in the Metro Manila area to process claims. 
Philippine officials provided facilities and assisted Embassy 
personnel with logistical support.  On February 24, USDVA 
Manila announced it would begin taking applications by mail 
to provide as many veterans as possible access to filing 
their applications.  To minimize travel for the veterans, 
many of whom were in poor health and could hardly afford 
travel, dozens of USDVA employees fanned out across the 
Philippines to accept applications and process claims, an 
initiative warmly welcomed by the veterans and their 
families.  USDVA officials believe that more than 30,000 
applications will be submitted before the deadline of 
 
MANILA 00000544  002 OF 002 
 
 
February 16, 2010, though perhaps only one-third of the 
applicants are likely eligible for the benefit. 
 
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STRONG MISSION OUTREACH BLUNTS CRITICISM 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U)  Despite the overwhelmingly positive response from 
the Filipino veterans community, the cash payment they would 
receive if eligible did not deter some critics from saying 
the benefit was "too little, too late," and questioning why 
Filipinos with U.S. citizenship would receive $15,000 instead 
of $9,000.  Philippine government officials, including 
President Arroyo, while supportive of the decision to grant 
benefits to Filipino veterans, opined that the decision to 
"right a historic wrong" had been long in coming.  The 
Ambassador made a series of public appearances with veterans 
groups to promote the benefit and the Mission's readiness to 
work with applicants.  On February 19 -- the first day the 
Embassy began accepting applications -- the Ambassador 
greeted Filipino veterans and their families at the Embassy, 
thanking them for their service.  In Cebu the next day, the 
Ambassador conducted media interviews to promote the FVEC 
benefit, emphasize the transparent nature of the application 
process, and announce that USDVA staff would be in Cebu the 
following week to accept claims, contributing to the 
subsequent large response in Cebu. 
 
¶7.  (U)  The marquee event was a ceremony at Malacanang 
Palace with President Arroyo on February 23, in which the 
Ambassador and USDVA Manila officials participated in a 
handover of a framed copy of the veterans equity language of 
the legislation.  The event garnered national coverage and 
highlighted the regional outreach the Mission was undertaking 
and the numerous services USDVA Manila provides Filipino 
veterans.  Continuing the outreach, the Ambassador addressed 
a group of veterans in Baguio on February 27, and the USDVA 
Manila Director has done radio and television interviews to 
further clarify questions surrounding the requirements to 
receive the FVEC benefit. 
 
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NEXT STEPS 
---------- 
 
¶8.  (U)  With the initial FVEC benefits expected to be 
disbursed to Filipino veterans in mid-April, the Mission is 
preparing for the inevitable appeals from those applicants 
whose claims are rejected and potential media fallout.  USDVA 
Manila estimates that approximately 12,000 Filipino veterans 
residing in the Philippines could qualify for the benefit, 
but that more than 30,000 individuals may submit claims. 
Mission officials will continue to work with the Philippine 
government to ensure benefits reach those who deserve them 
and that all applicants are treated compassionately. 
 
KENNEY