STORMY WEATHER DURING ALL SAINTS' DAY / FIL-AM VETS CLAIMS TILL FEB 18, 2010
MANILA, OCTOBER 27, 2009 (STAR) Filipinos in Central and Southern Luzon as well as in Metro Manila could expect stormy weather during the observance of All Saints’ Day as a tropical depression threatens to affect these areas this weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned yesterday.Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo said a tropical depression over the Marianas Islands east of the Philippines was expected to enter the country’s territory on Thursday or Friday.
Tropical storm “Ramil” (international code name: Lupit), which brought heavy rains and strong winds over northern Luzon provinces last week, left the Philippine area of responsibility Sunday night.
“The tropical depression could affect Central and Southern Luzon and the NCR (National Capital Region) by Oct. 31 or Nov. 1,” Nilo said in a text message.
As of 11 a.m. yesterday, the tropical depression was spotted some 2,800 kilometers east of the Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour.
It was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.
Meanwhile, Pagasa deputy administrator Nathaniel Cruz said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) would continue to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over most parts of Mindanao.
The rest of the country would have isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms, Cruz said.
Alarm systems
Meantime, all local chief executives whose areas are prone to calamities were urged to install within 30 calendar days alarm systems in their respective jurisdictions to prepare their constituents for calamities.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the alarm system must be capable of producing loud-wailing sounds in order to better prepare and alert the public of imminent calamities.
“The widespread and unparalleled devastation wrought by tropical storm ‘Ondoy’ and typhoon ‘Pepeng’ stress the importance and urgency for all of us to be adequately prepared for such situations,” Puno said. “It is necessary for us to adopt and implement all possible emergency and safety measures to prevent devastations of the same magnitude in the future.”
Puno said provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, particularly those whose localities are traversed by rivers or tributaries serving as catch-basins of dams and water reservoirs or are flood or landslide-prone, should immediately put up such stationary or portable warning devices in their respective cities and municipalities that can reach a majority of the residents.
Last Friday, Puno convened officials of the DILG, including regional and provincial field officials, to discuss ways of building up the resiliency of local government units in times of disaster.
The DILG chief said the Local Government Code directs local chief executives to carry out emergency and safety measures during and in the aftermath of disasters and calamities, and the local legislative bodies to adopt measures to protect inhabitants from the harmful effects of disasters and calamities.
In his directive, Puno advised them to coordinate with the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection in their areas relative to the protocols on the operation of the warning systems and on the deployment of equipage, and the use of portable warning systems in the event of calamities as an interim measure pending the installation of permanent alarm devices.
In Sorsogon province, Oxfam, a non-government organization, donated equipment that can measure rainwater to help residents assess the amount of rain and to determine if they already have to evacuate. – Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe
Pinoy veterans have until Feb. 16 to file claims By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated October 27, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The US Embassy announced yesterday that Filipino World War II veterans have until Feb. 16, 2010 to file their claims for Filipino WWII Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC).
The embassy said representatives from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) would visit Baguio, San Fernando, Cebu and Davao to accept claims during the four months remaining for Filipino veterans to file their claims.
The FVEC benefit is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed by the US Congress and signed into law by US President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, 2009.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 formally recognizes the service of qualified Filipino WWII veterans in the US Armed Forces for purposes of this law. It authorizes a one-time lump-sum payment of $15,000 to eligible Filipino veterans with US citizenship and $9,000 to non-US citizen veterans.
The US government has approved $198 million for the benefit of all eligible Filipino WWII veterans. This additional benefit will not change or affect other benefits an individual may be currently receiving.
The embassy, through its USDVA Regional Office, has already processed more than 11,000 FVEC claims and has paid more than $105 million to beneficiaries.
The USDVA pays approximately $17 million per month to veterans residing in the Philippines. Some $8 million of this goes to Filipino WWII veterans or their heirs.
For those claimants who have not yet filed an application, instructions are posted on the embassy website at http://manila.usembassy.gov.
Claimants are asked not to file duplicate applications if they have already received acknowledgement of receipt of their claim. New applications may be mailed to the US Department of Veterans Affairs Manila Regional Office located at the US Embassy, 1131 Roxas Boulevard 0930, Manila. US citizens are asked to submit a copy of their US passport.
Those seeking assistance in completing their application can make an appointment with a USDVA representative by calling (632) 528-2500 or 1-800-1888-5252 outside of Metro Manila.
All Filipino WWII veterans are requested to bring the following information and documentation (if applicable) when filing their claims: two forms of identification (such as passport, driver’s license, Senior Citizen ID, Bureau of Post ID, Voter ID, etc.); VA Claim number; Service Number; proof of military service (AGO Form 23); and US passport (for US citizens).
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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