By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE head of the office with oversight of Guam’s veterans affairs met yesterday with Lt. Gov. Michael W. Cruz to hear the concerns of the island’s veterans and to thank the administration for its work that leads to more veteran benefits being claimed and paid.
Greg Reed, director of the Honolulu Veterans Affairs Regional Office, paid a courtesy visit to Adelup in his first official trip to Guam.
He was joined by Honolulu Veterans Affairs Regional Office Decision Review officer and Guam native Tina Aguon and Veterans Service representative David Larson.
Both are on island with their staff to help improve the quality of life for Guam veterans, their widows and dependents.
“We will continue to support Guam’s Veterans Affairs office because it has grown over the past few years and it’s due to many changes that have taken place under Governor Camacho’s leadership,” Reed said.
During the courtesy visit, the lieutenant governor asked the visiting officials to help Guam veterans gain easier access to Naval Hospital.
The officials said they will work on the matter.
“The governor and I will work with you to make sure Guam veterans get the benefits they are entitled to, as quickly as possible,” Cruz said.
The officials credited the administration with an increase in claims submitted and paid.
According to Veterans Affairs data, more veterans on Guam are being registered and made aware of their benefits and that the Guam Veterans Affairs office is working harder to process these claims.
The Honolulu Veterans Affairs Regional Office produced information showing that the amount of benefits awarded to Guam veterans has increased from $13.1 million to $23.5 million since Camacho took office.
The administration attributed this increase mainly to the expanded services the Guam office offers, including aggressive outreach to register veterans and have them file claims, and homebound service.
The number of veterans served by the Guam Veterans Affairs office who have service connected disabilities also increased from 1,366 in fiscal year 2005 to 1,445 FY 2006, through the Guam office outreach and the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans group, the Vietnam Veterans of America organization, Project Guiding Light and Sen. Antonio R. Unpingco, R-Santa Rita, who chairs the veterans affairs committee.
The Honolulu Veterans Affairs Regional Office will meet with the Guam Veterans Affairs office staff on how to improve timeliness of claims. The Honolulu staff will also conduct more training for the Guam staff in other areas as well.