JFAV Update
Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV)
(213) 241-0906
April 13, 2009
LUMP SUM CHECKS OUT: MORE THAN 26,000 FILIPINO VETERANS ENROLLED FOR BENEFITS
Los Angeles – The first batch of Filipino World War II veterans are about to receive their lump sum checks this month as promised by the Department of Veterans Administration (DVA)
The DVA reported that they are assessing at least 776 applications and have approved the first batch of 195 checks that will be delivered this week to at least 18,000 veterans in the United States and the Philippines.
A 98-year old ACFV lobbyist Alberto Bacani, from Alexandria , Virginia became the first Filipino veteran who received his $ 15,000 dollar check. This was given to him by retired general Antonio Taguba who represented the DVA Secretary in a special ceremony in the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC last April 8.
Earlier, Ambassador Kenny of the US to the Philippines reported that two Filipino veterans received their checks ( $ 9,000) in the Philippines during the commemoration of 67th Bataan Day.
But the problem of more applicants for the benefits still plagues the veterans. Taguba admitted that more than 26,000 Filipino veterans applied for the benefits. The DVA reported that they are evaluating more than 16,143 applications as of the press time.
The DVA in 2001 only officially listed 18,000 Filipino World War II veterans while the PVAO reported around 70,000 veterans still living in the Philippines. PVAO reported this February 2009 that there are around 40,000 living veterans in the Philippines.
The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) have pointed out this problems earlier in its statement for the media. The US Congress approved a lump sum with a quit claim instead of the veterans demand for a life-time pension.
For more information please call Arturo P. Garcia at (213)241-0906 or email at
jfav_us@yahoo.com .
