The US Embassy in Manila has reminded Filipino World War II veterans who have not yet applied for the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) claims that they only have until February 16 to claim their benefits, and no extension will be given to late applicants.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney said they will conduct more information sorties to ensure that every Filipino war veteran would receive their claims, adding that US Embassy personnel will be deployed to far-flung areas for the information drive.

“Every veteran out there, if you think in any way you need to be applying, please do. We don’t want to miss anyone,” Kenney said.

“We’re embarking on a lot of outreach programs in January. We will go in different places, we will be talking on the radio because we want to reach everyone,” she said. “It is free; you can do it online, you can come in person, you can phone in, however it is easy to do.”

“For the first six weeks [of 2010], we will be going to places where there is a large population of veterans,” Kenney said.

“Please apply even if you think you’re remotely eligible. They will be processed after that,” she appealed.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) earlier said it will be sending representatives to the regions so that veterans in the Visayas may go to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in Cebu City on January 14 while those in Mindanao can proceed to the PVAO in Davao City on February 11.

The representatives will accept claims from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the said dates.

According to Kenney, there will be no extension after the February 16 deadline.

“The cut-off date is clear; it’s in the law. Every application for the new benefit should be in by February 16, 2010,” she stressed.

“There is absolutely no extension... Our Congress is absolutely clear, so we want to make sure that we have reached everyone.”

The benefit for WWII veterans is among the provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed by the US Congress and signed into law by US President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009.

Under the law, the services of Filipino World War II veterans are formally recognized as active military service in the US Armed Forces.

The US government has earmarked US$198 million for the benefit of all eligible Filipino World War II veterans. A one-time lump-sum payment of US$15,000 is given to eligible veterans with US citizenship and US$9,000 to non-US citizen veterans.