Filipino forum. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1928-196?, 1950-11-01
Continued from Page Two)

went to the hFC where IL Is Teuucl-
ing good and effective help to the
people by enabling them to recon
struct their dwellings. With the
money the RFC is also able to help
to some extent in rehabilitating
some industries.
(e) The amount of military equip
ment given to the Philippines will
be of no value for the economic
improvement of the country. On
the other hand, it may cost some
more money to keep them in good
condition and to see that they are
not improperly used.
During the occupation and after
the re-entry of the Americans into
the Philippines, large quantities of
firearms were given to the guerril-
las, and because they were not
taken back when the American
army left, We inherited the very
troublesome problem of collecting
loose firearms. These loose fire
arms scattered all over the Philip
pines after the war was over, while
not mainly responsible for the dis
turbed conditions today, have I'M
doubtedly aggravated such condi-
lions.
1t will be noted from the fore
going that except for the surplus
property which was transferred to
the Philippine Government, the ad-
ministration of all the funds paid
out by the U. S. Government here
is in the hands of agencies of the
latter. The veterans pension and
benefit payments and the war dam
age checks being private funds, the
Philippine Government has no
power over them and cannot direct
their spending.
The only direct aid received by
the Philippine Government from
the u. S. Government was a bud
getary loan in the sum of $50 mil
lion in 1915 to enable the local gov
eminent to operate. This being for
budgetary expenses, however, it
could not be used for reconstruc-
ton or rehabilitation projects. The
truth of the matter is that the u. S.
Government has thus far not given
to the Philippines sufficient and
properly organized aid, considering
the tremendous destruction the lat
ter suffered in the last war. 1t is
true that however undersigned for
planned rehabilitation the aid was,
it did result in large inflow of
dollars. Admittedly many of the
uses to which these dollars were
put did not contribute to a long
range rehabilitation of the Philip
pine economy.
After the liberation, the huge
problem of rehabilitating our indus
tries and commerce, important as
it was, had to yield to the more
pressing and more serious prob
lens of life such as the procure
ment of food, clothing, shelter and
medicines for the people. No inn
ports had entered the country for
three and half years during which
time the country had been sub
jected to continuous enemy plum
der and to extensive Wainwright
destruction. The people were hun
CRY and destitute. People actually
died of starvation in the streets of
Manila, something never before ex-
perienced in the Philippines. What
ever money there was, therefore, of
necessity went to much needed con-
sumer goods in enormous amounts.
If it had been possible indeed to
spend every cent that reached us
here from America exclusively for
the rebuilding of our industries and
f a m S, rehabilitation would I'M
doubtedly be far more complete
today than it is. But, unfortunately,
the immediate needs were too
pressing. Even America, which ex-
perienced nc domestic devastation
during the war, went into a buying
spree after the war Also, as has
been pointed out, the manner in
which the dollars entered the coun-