PVAO in Cebu says to start interview of WWII vets
By CARINE M. ASUTILLA, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas | 02/23/2009 11:26 PM
The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Central Visayas said it is set to start conducting interviews with Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans Tuesday until Thursday to determine if they will qualify as beneficiaries of United States’ newly stimulus law which provided benefits to veterans.
The families of the veterans rushed to PVAO office here in Central Visayas Monday for queries regarding the interview.
Emmanuel Pabilona of PVAO-7 said that veterans from provinces in Region 7 must come into their office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday until Thursday for an interview. Pabilona said that the interviews will be conducted nationwide from regions 1-14, and that three representatives from United States Veterans Affairs (USVA) will be the ones to interview them.
PCAO said the veteran should come personally and can be accompanied by any member of the family. He said that the veterans should bring an identification card and any supporting documents to prove that he is a qualified veteran. The benefits were announced that it may be released within this year.
Pabilona said that qualification would be that he is a living WW II veteran, recognized guerrilla, a member of United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), and Philippine Scout enlisted prior to July 1, 1946. He said that there are a thousand veterans in Central Visayas and about 12,000 veterans in the entire country who are still alive. He said that veterans of WW II are expected to be 83 years old and above.
He also said that veterans from other provinces in Central Visayas who will not be able to come into their regional office for circumstances beyond their control can go to Philippine Veterans Field Office.
Fred Cabalda was one who came to PVAO-7 to inquire on the said benefit. His father-in-law, Gregorio Isok is a veteran of WW II and is already 90 years old.
Cabalda said that the amount that will be given to his father-in-law will be enough for his medication. Isok is suffering from ailments brought by old age. Cabalda said that the family will be able to get back their things, which were pawned for Isok’s medicines.
Paulino Luniza, former president and now consultant of the Sons and Daughters of Veterans of World War II, also came to PVAO with his mother Pascuala. Luniza said that their group will try to come up with a request for the government of the United States to allow living spouses of veterans who already died to still avail of the benefits. Luniza said that the amount would be of great help to families of the veterans especially to their spouses who are living but suffering from ailments.
Pabilona said however that the spouses can only claim the benefit if the qualified veteran died after having been interviewed. Philippine-based veterans who will qualify will each receive $9,000 while US-based veterans will each receive $15,000.
Pabilona said that aside from the US benefits, the PVAO has been providing assistance to the veterans and their families such as educational insurance, hospitalization, old-age pension for the veteran and his spouse, disability assistance, death and burial assistance among others. He said that the only benefit that has not yet been given to them is the non-service-connected disability pension that has already been approved by the Philippine government in 1994 which no funding has been released yet however.
as of 02/23/2009 11:26 PM
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