3 May 2006 — The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Governing Council in Geneva, during its 56th Session, has set 30 September 2006 as the final deadline in locating and paying  Gulf War claimants who had been affected by the 1990 Iraq-Kuwait war and with approved claims from the UNCC.

Philippine Claims and Compensation Committee Secretariat (PCCCS) Secretary General Minda C. Cruz stated that, based on PCCCS records, there are still Gulf War claimants who have not coordinated with the PCCCS despite efforts to reach them through mail, saturation drives within the Philippines and abroad, and assistance of Philippine Foreign Service Posts.   Secretary General  Cruz said  the PCCCS now calls on these claimants to coordinate with the office at the soonest possible time.

“These claimants must coordinate with the PCCCS before the set deadline   because, after 30 September 2006, the UNCC will no longer entertain Philippine Government requests for the return of funds to be paid to applicants whose claims have already been approved by the UNCC,” Secretary General Cruz said.

She added that “the PCCCS now calls on all OFWs who were affected by the war in Iraq and Kuwait in 1990 and who have claims approved by the UNCC to call the PCCCS at telephone 832-5303, or visit us at the third floor of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City to confirm if they are included in the UNCC list of approved claims.”

Secretary General Cruz explained that each claim would cover the expenses incurred by the OFW for departure or travel expenses from Kuwait or Iraq as well as loss of personal properties as a result of the war.

Attached is the list of the concerned Gulf War claimants. END