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LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS
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LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 331
TO
: All Concerned
WHEREAS, 8 December 1977 will mark the 35th anniversary of World War
II's engulfment of Southeast Asia;
WHEREAS, since then the protagonist nations in this region of that
great holocaust have been the most dedicated in reminding mankind about
the futility and tragic consequences of war as a solution to
international differences;
WHEREAS, their postwar commitment to peace and world brotherhood has
found no greater demonstration than in the Philippines where, after
being one of the most devastated countries in that war, all the
protagonist nations rendered generous humanitarian services to
rehabilitate the country and people and provide them a base for
progress;
WHEREAS, the world situation today is such as to compel all nations of
the world to remind themselves anew of the wastefulness and pain of
war, and to appreciate the potential and actual heights of progress and
achievement which peoples can attain in peace;
WHEREAS, the Philippines happens in the past, to be one of the arenas
of conflict and suffering but now a present crucible of international
efforts to peacefully uplift a nation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I declare the period between 1 January 1977 and 31
December 1977 as the year for a REUNION FOR PEACE, and invite all the
servicemen who served in the Philippines, during World War II to
revisit the Philippines, meet in brother-hood and, together, recalling
the sadness of the past and appreciating the joys of the present, draw
fresh vigor for their dedication to the cause of peace. In connection
therewith, the following instructions are hereby issued:
1.
To coordinate and supervise REUNION FOR PEACE, a
Coordinating Committee is hereby created composed of the respective
Heads of the Department of National Defense, Department of Tourism,
Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Local Government and
Community Development, Department of Finance, Department of Public
Works, Department of Public Highways, National Historical Institute and
the Veterans Federation of the Philippines with the Secretary of
National Defense as the Chairman and the Secretary of Tourism as
Executive Secretary. The Committee shall devise a program to bring
about the objectives set forth in this Letter of Instruction and may
call on any government office or agency for assistance or cooperation
to insure the success of REUNION FOR PEACE, such as incentive on their
fare to and from the Philippines, within the Philippines itself,
removal of barriers to their entry and exit, a hospitality program and
all other forms of consideration to make their stay pleasant and
memorable.
2. The
incentives of the REUNION FOR PEACE program
shall apply to the members of the armed forces of both the Allied and
Axis powers of World War II who served in the Philippines during that
war, the immediate members of their families down to grandchildren, or
their immediate survivors down to grandchildren, whether the veteran
concerned died during or after the war; provided, that in the case of
the servicemen of the Allied powers, the incentives shall equally apply
to those who served tours of duty in the Philippines after World War
II, in the belief that such service contributed to the cause of peace
as well as to members of their families or survivors as above.
3. A veteran
or serviceman availing of the incentives
of this program must present to the travel agent or airline office
confirmation of his service in the Philippines from the appropriate
agency of his government or a recognized veterans group. In the case of
a veteran's family who will come over without the veteran, the veteran,
in addition to the above confirmation, must certify that the persons
are members of his immediate family. In the case of survivors, they
must also be confirmed as such by the government agency. In the case of
survivors who are not listed as next of kin in official records, the
next of kin thus registered must, in addition to confirmation of his or
her being next of kin, certify that the travelers are members of his or
her immediate family.
4. The
Department of Foreign Affairs shall give
priority attention to the beneficiaries of this program, next only to
Balikbayan beneficiaries, and shall adopt rules and regulations to
liberalize their travel to and from the Philippines, including, but not
limited to, the waiver of visa requirements. The Department through its
Embassies and Consulates, shall also help promote and supervise REUNION
FOR PEACE through liaison with appropriate foreign government offices
administering veterans affairs, and recognized veterans' organizations.
5. The
Department of Foreign Affairs shall likewise
make appropriate representations with the Civil Aeronautics authorities
of the foreign countries involved, especially the USA, Australia and
Japan, to obtain approval for the special fare facility designed for
this program.
6. The
Philippine Airlines shall give beneficiaries
hospitality or promotional fare discounts of not less than 50%, and
offer special group and family fares including charters. All foreign
airlines operating in the Philippines are wholeheartedly invited to
participate in REUNION FOR PEACE.
7. The
Philippine Air Lines, the Philippine
Aero-Transport, Inc. and the Philippine National Railways shall offer
beneficiaries not less than 30% discount on domestic fares, and offer
as well special group or family fares.
8. The Land
Transportation Commission and the
Maritime Affairs Office shall negotiate with private land and sea
transportation companies, respectively, hospitality discounts on fares
for the beneficiaries, including special family and group fares.
9. The
Commission on Immigration and Deportation
shall liberalize rules for the entry and stay of beneficiaries; it
shall also, as in the Balikbayan program, design a special stamp for
their passports, identifying them as beneficiaries of REUNION FOR
PEACE, which stamp shall serve as their identification when dealing
with local hotels, tour agencies, etc.
10. The Bureau
of Customs, as in the Balikbayan
program, shall interpret customs rules and regulations liberally in
favor of the beneficiaries, and shall ensure courteous, honest and
efficient service to them as their introduction to the New Society.
11. The
Department of Tourism shall plan and
implement a comprehensive program to promote REUNION FOR PEACE. It
shall, likewise, negotiate with hotels and tour agencies for discounts
on rooms and tours, respectively, at not less than 30% of their
existing rates.
12. The
Department of National Defense shall assure
protection and convenience of beneficiaries throughout their stay in
the Philippines, especially in their tours of former battlefields or
war shrines in remote areas.
13. The
Department of National Defense, through the
Philippine Veterans Federation, shall cause the organization of
Veterans Hospitality Committees in appropriate provinces, cities and
municipalities, such committees to function in the same manner with
which local Balikbayan Hospitality Committees serve Balikbayan
arrivals. In addition, the Committees, with the support and cooperation
of local government and private organizations, shall organize welcome
celebrations for visiting beneficiaries and, when appropriate, organize
peace rallies to promote among local residents the objectives and
significance of REUNION FOR PEACE.
14. The
Philippine Tourism Authority, by itself,
and/or in cooperation with other governmental financing and developing
institutions, local governments and the private sector, shall develop
or otherwise assure the availability of adequate and comfortable
accommodations, facilities and services in major battlegrounds and war
shrines as determined by the Coordinating Committee described below.
15. The
Department of Local Government and Community
Development shall ensure the sustained implementation of national and
local community cleanliness and beautification programs, including the
sprucing up of World War II historical spots, local war shrines and
monuments, etc.
16. The
Department of Trade shall assure that
beneficiaries receive special consideration in commercial
establishments which normally cater to foreign visitors in souvenirs,
personal articles, gifts, etc.
17. The
Department of Education and Culture shall
prepare school hospitality programs and/or convocations for visiting
beneficiaries to help pupils and students appreciate the services to
the Philippines of the beneficiaries and/or their countries in war and
peace, and to promote among the youth the objectives and significance
of REUNION FOR PEACE.
I enjoin my countrymen to render their full support to REUNION FOR PEACE.
Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five
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