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Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Calls on Ambassador Gaa
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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa (right) welcomes Peace Corps Philippines Country
Director Sonia Derenoncourt (middle) during a courtesy call at the Embassy of the Philippines. Accompanying
her is US Peace Corps Philippine Desk Officer Jim Metzgar (left).
Director Derenoncourt briefed Ambassador Gaa on their program and events, including regional activities in
preparation for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the US Peace Corps.
Ambassador Gaa, taking note of these developments, said that the Peace Corps is an important partner in
forging greater understanding between Filipinos and Americans and has left a legacy of service to the world.
Established in 1960 by then Senator John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps Philippines is a federal government
agency that seeks to promote world peace and friendship through the involvement of American youth in
developing countries. To date, a total of 8,000 volunteers have served in the Philippines. END.
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Ambassador Gaa Stresses Shared RP-US Ties in Urban Planning and Architecture
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Ambassador Willy C. Gaa addresses the audience before the DC premiere presentation of “Make No Little
Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City” at the National Mall. Ambassador emphasized that the legacies
of architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham continued to resonate with significance, particularly in the
Philippines. Make No Little Plans, traces the life and contributions of Burnham, including his plans for Manila
and Baguio City. Along with Ambassador Gaa, other speakers were Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President
Obama, Jim Leach, Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Caroline Cunningham, President,
Trust for the National Mall, John Ettelson, President and CEO of William Blair and Company, Marcel Acosta,
Executive Director, National Capital Planning Commission and Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen. The DC
premiere was presented by the Archimedia Workshop in association with the Embassy of the Philippines, the
National Capital Planning Commission, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Trust for the National
Mall, the US Commission of Fine Arts, William Blair and Company and the Brickman Group. END
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OVER US $188M AWARDED TO FILVETS AS OF 01 JUNE 2010
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The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office of the Embassy of the Philippines announced that over US $188 million
has been awarded to eligible Filipino veterans from the Filipino Veteran Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund as
of 01 June 2010. Of the approved claims, 7,603 (18.45%) are Filipino veterans based in the Philippines while
the remaining 7,991 (19.40%) are Filipino veterans living in the United States. Applications received are now
presently recorded at 41,195.
There are 7,969 (19.34%) pending claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which are currently being
verified through the appropriate service department at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St.
Louis, MO. NPRC serves as the Army’s records custodian.
Denied applications are at 17,632 (42.80%). Of this number, the Manila Regional Office reports that it has
received 1,761 Notice of Denials.
The Philippine Office of Veterans Affairs is continuously conducting outreach programs to aid veterans with
denied applications go through the appeals process. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
encloses a VA Form 4107, "Your Rights to Appeal Our Decision," in the FVEC notification letter to explain
options available to those with denied claims. END.
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PGMA to continue reform agenda in Congress; Air Force chief calls her “seasoned
pilot”
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Monday night said she will continue with her reform initiatives in Congress.
especially the programs that will sustain the strong economic fundamentals that allowed her during her
administration to provide and deliver better lives for the Filipino people.
The outgoing Chief Executive made the commitment during the Philippine Air Force’s 63rd founding
anniversary ball at the Tejeros Hall of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City where she was the guest speaker
Monday night.
At the testimonial part of the event, the Air Force chief hailed her good governance and support to the PAF for
the past nine years, calling the President “a seasoned pilot.”
“Now I will assume a new role but with the same commitment to continue the fight to reform our nation and
make it a better place to live and work,” said the President who will take oath as congresswoman of
Pampanga’s 2nd district tomorrow (June 30) after new President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III has taken his
oath.
In her message, she also thanked the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as well as the entire Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) for their assistance and support to her administration and for contributing their share in the
country’s peace and development.
With the support of the AFP, the President said, she was able to work hard every single day to carry out her
administration’s “flight plan” and make it come true.
“So on the eve of my departure from the post of Commander-in-Chief and the presidency, I am deeply grateful
to the nation, for allowing me the honor of serving the people and the Philippine Air Force and the Armed
Forces for giving me all the assistance the past nine years,” the President said.
The President pointed out that for the past nine years, the PAF has pushed its own capabilities to greater
heights through a modernization program while improving its combat and rescue capabilities. At the same
time PAF has also been involved in the counter-insurgency program through the Kalayaan Barangay
development projects, a local peace building initiative intended to put an end to the decades-old problem of
communist insurgency.
PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Ravena for his part said the PAF has become a part in the molding of a stronger
Republic under the command of a “seasoned pilot” (the President) whose efforts successfully helped AFP to
modernize itself.
Ravena likewise stressed that with the improvements in governance, the Philippine was able to play a regional
role in the global fight against terrorism.
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Coast guards cites improved capability under PGMA
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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) today honored outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with a
testimonial parade during which she was hailed for fully supporting the agency in its role of securing the
country’s marine environment.
The President was also cited for developing the maritime industry into a vibrant sector under her concept of the
Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).
PCG chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo led the testimonial and parade honors at the Eva Macapagal Super
Terminal at Pier 15 in Port Area, Manila.
Tamayo said the President’s initiatives strengthened the Coast Guard service to be able to link with SRNH
program that promoted inter-island trade, commerce and tourism.
“I am very grateful to say that you are leaving behind a vibrant maritime sector under the banner of the Strong
Republic Nautical Highway which continues to improve the maritime transportation system in the country, and
of course a Coast Guard service poised to fortify that system by providing safeguards to every link of it to
ensure that fast, undisrupted and more economical movement of cargo and is sustained,” Tamayo said.
Tamayo added that under President Arroyo’s incumbency, the Coast Guard was vested with the necessary
tools and elements for it to render better professional service especially with the passage of Republic Act
9993, the PCG Law of 2009, which established the PCG as an armed and uniformed service under the
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
The PCG has matured into a world-class maritime agency with its inspection processes already rated above
par by no less than the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Tamayo said.
Tamayo said the PCG was able to improve its cadetship program with the Philippine Merchant Marine
Academy (PMMA) which is expected to further improve the maritime industry.
To date, Tamayo said the PCG operates 563 lighthouses alI over the country and has acquired modern
communications equipment for early warning systems and weather bulletins for plying sea vessels.
Tamayo said the creation of Task Force Sea Marshall also strengthened its efforts against terrorism and other
maritime security threats.
During the affair, the President was gifted with a replica of the PCG search and rescue vessel, BRP
Pampanga, while DOTC Acting Secretary Anneli Lontoc presented another replica of a roll-on roll-off (RO-RO)
vessel symbolizing the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.
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Honoring Daniel Burnham
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Ambassador Willy C. Gaa joins other honored guests at the DC premiere of “Make No Little Plans: Daniel
Burnham and the American City.” The documentary traces the life and contributions of urban planner and
architect Daniel Burnham, including his plans for Manila and Baguio City. Along with Ambassador Gaa, other
speakers were Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, Jim Leach, Chair of the National
Endowment for the Humanities, Caroline Cunningham, President, Trust for the National Mall, John Ettelson,
President and CEO of William Blair and Company, Marcel Acosta, Executive Director, National Capital Planning
Commission and Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen. The DC premiere was presented by the Archimedia
Workshop in association with the Embassy of the Philippines, the National Capital Planning Commission, the
National Endowment for the Humanities, the Trust for the National Mall, the US Commission of Fine Arts,
William Blair and Company and the Brickman Group. END
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