PROMISE OF BENEFITS DRAWS HUGE RESPONSE FROM

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. -------------- -------------- 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. -------------- 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. -------------- 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