Our dear Philippine veterans from World War II awaits the benefits of being pensioners as the stimulus act of the United States is being approved.
It was said that in the Obama administration "no one should be left behind". He indeed stood up in his promise, by signing the economic stimulus bill ($787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) thus making it a law. Tucked in the legislation is a provision appropriating $198 million for the Filipino veterans who fought alongside the U.S. forces during the WWII. This act could pay the long-overdue debt to the Philippine war veterans of the second world war.
They were promised payments in fighting against Japanese but never were paid. A blessing indeed for the remaining 18,000 survivors who really needs the money here and overseas.
With the bill signed, how soon can we see the release of these benefits?
Ret. Major Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, head of the Veterans Affairs office of the Philippine Embassy said: “It takes about 90 days for them to set up the mechanism. The target is to start immediately so they can start processing the papers immediately. They expect, maybe an estimate within three months there will be some benefits.”
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