By Roy Pelovello

PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday ordered the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office to set up centers in the provinces that will help process claims by Filipino war veterans for payment from the US government.

At least 15 processing centers, to be called fast-track centers, will be set up in provinces with a large number of World War II veterans, Mrs. Arroyo said in her speech.

The idea is to spare the veterans who have served our country at the cost of freedom from the physical torture and cost of going to Metro Manila to have their claims processed, the President said.

Each war veteran living in the Philippines is entitled to a $9,000 one-time lump sum payment from the US government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed last Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama. Those veterans based in the US are allotted $15,000 each.

President Arroyo thanked the US Congress and President Obama for enacting the law that gave recognition to the Filipinos? role during World War II and providing for benefits to them.

Mrs. Arroyo said with the US? action, ?our long battle for justice to our Filipino war veterans achieved a great victory.?

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney lauded Mrs. Arroyo?s directive, saying it would help them achieve their goal of bringing the benefits to the Filipino war veterans.

?We?re going to be deploying as the President has said starting tomorrow throughout the country, 15 different sites, you can come to the [US] Embassy, and also to Camp Aguinaldo. Our goal is to reach all available veterans throughout the country,? Kenney said.

Kenney said because it?s a US benefit, only the US Department of Veterans Affairs can receive and process the claims but the Philippine government is helping by offering the facilities and manpower for the purpose.

Deputy presidential spokesman Lorelie Fajardo warned veterans, in separate interviews, not to fall prey to fixers who are promising them speedy processing of their claims for a fee.

?They [eligible Filipino veterans] have one year to file for benefits, it is free to file for benefits so don?t believe anyone who tries to take money from you, it?s absolutely free to file,? Kenney said.

Kenney said the US Embassy would even consider suggestions to open the processing centers on Sundays to speed up the release of benefits to eligible WWII veterans.