Drilon asks Schwarzenegger: Spare Pinoy vets’ benefits

Senate President Franklin Drilon asked yesterday California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to spare the 1,700 Filipino-American World War II veterans from being stripped of their cash benefits under his sweeping budget cuts proposal.

Drilon sent a letter to Schwarzenegger dated Feb. 24, asking the former action movie star to reconsider his proposal of scrapping the California Veterans Cash Benefits (CVCB) program which helps sustain Filipino war veterans residing in the state.

Even though CVCB may be small, Drilon said the state program symbolically grants Filipino-Americans the benefits they earned for their service during World War II. "I realize that there have to be certain sacrifices to be made by California in order for the state to achieve a balanced budget. I am deeply concerned, however, that the proposed elimination of the (CVCB) program has overlooked certain issues that your excellency may wish to consider," Drilon said.

Drilon noted former California governor Gray Davis approved the program in year 2000 in recognition to the contribution of the aging Filipino war veterans that served in the US military. He said that under CVCB, the low income elderly and disabled Filipino-American war veterans residing in California are given $226 a month.

There are an estimated 3,000 Filipino war veterans living in California.

"It was viewed as a long-fought recognition of many Filipino-American veterans who were denied regular assistance afforded to other veterans by the US government until December 1999 when President Bill Clinton signed a federal law granting benefits," Drilon said.

Drilon claimed CVCB came under review when Schwarzenegger took over as he proposed a $1.9 billion budget cut to solve California’s budget deficit problem.

Drilon stressed some 1,700 Filipino veterans, who have decided to return to the Philippines, would lose their benefits if the program is scrapped.

"My request is for your excellency’s assistance in defending the maintenance of this item in the State budget. This expense item in the budget is not significant as it involves only the payment of $226 per month to each veteran," Drilon stated.

"At today’s exchange rate, the veterans receive the equivalent of P12,836 which goes a long way in the Philippines," he said.

Drilon said the 1,700 veterans chose to return home since it is their wish to be with their families and die in the country of their birth.

"Their numbers are dwindling and the diminishing costs of this benefit are self-explanatory," he said.

Drilon said CVCB payments to Filipino war veterans were made "in lieu of full military and medical benefits and pensions commensurate to other US veterans who similarly served."

"The California State Assembly and Senate, in recognition of the foregoing, crafted legislation to permit the receipt of the State portion of such income by this class of persons in the Philippines," Drilon reminded Schwarzenegger in his letter.

Meanwhile, Drilon assured the Senate will still act on a pending bill which seeks to upgrade the academic standards of the University of the Philippines (UP), otherwise known as the UP Charter Bill.

Drilon denied having shot down the bill saying it has been scheduled for floor deliberations when Congress resumes session after the May 10 elections.

In a statement, Drilon declared that "despite the near-hysterical public lamentations from UP president Francisco Nemenzo, the bill has not been killed at the Senate."

Drilon also defended re-electionist Sen. John Osmeña who was accused by Nemenzo of blocking the passage of the bill.

Osmeña expressed concern over the heavy concentration of resources in the UP main campus in Diliman, Quezon City as against other UP campuses in the provinces.

"The accusation that Senator Osmeña was blocking the passage of the bill due to personal and malicious reasons is too simplistic and unfair," he said.

Drilon explained the bill will involve additional appropriations "amounting to millions of taxpayer’s money."

"It will significantly increase the salaries of university teachers and personnel. It will also grant new powers to the UP Board of Regents in disposing untapped UP real estate assets."

Sen. Joker Arroyo earlier raised questions over the passage of the bill in pointing out the absence of measures that should be in place to prevent UP officials from abusing their powers to sell the school assets.