WASHINGTON D.C. – Ambassador Willy C. Gaa thanked US Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson for allocating $.5-million for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City during his call on Nicholson March 7. Gaa said it will go a long way in helping the medical needs of the Filipino WWII veterans. The Ambassador requested for the continuation of this aid.
The Ambassador likewise thanked the
Secretary for his Department’s help on the Filipino Veterans Equity bills
pending in both houses of the US Congress. The Ambassador also informed
the Secretary that time is of the essence for the Filipino WWII veterans whose
members are fast diminishing every year.
Nicholson recalled his very pleasant trip
to Manila in 2006, which included a visit to Corregidor and the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center. Then he added that he is giving another half a million
to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center this year. Some of his staff
members are leaving for Manila on March 11 to visit the VA Regional Office and
to assess the needs of the VMMC. On the Filipino Veterans Equity Bills, he
acknowledged that these bills are very important to the Filipino Veterans. He
stated that they have recently received a request for DVA views on the bills
and that they will do a careful analysis and evaluation of the bills as
requested by the US Congress.