VVA Chapter PI 887

Allen “Pop” Reeves American Legion Post 123

Good afternoon, Veterans, VA Partners, Organizations, and Advocates:

We are proud to announce that we finally have parking back for our Veterans. Our Team here at the VA Manila Benefits Office and OPC have been working hard to get this benefit returned for our Veterans.

Effective immediately Veterans may now park on the inside service road, at no cost, along the road barrier where there are now signs posted (compliments of MMDA) along the road showing “Parking Area for VA Patients Only”. Attached (see Veteran Parking Card) is a card that we ask Veterans that have an upcoming appointment to print and place on your dashboard that is visible through your windshield. This card will ensure that your vehicle is designated to park in this location, without it you could be at risk of being towed or ticketed. If you forget to print and bring the card with you for your appointment there, will be one available at the VBA CAC window (inside the guard entrance) for you to use. It is recommended that you print your own so you do not have to come in and go back out to your car multiple times to get a card as you will be asked to return it to the CAC window prior to leaving.

The new parking is less than what we previously had as we can no longer park vertically and so we ask that if you are mobile to continue to park at another location to allow the Veterans that are less mobile to use the space out front as parking will be on a first come first serve basis. We are working with MMDA to expand our parking capabilities to the other side of the service road near the Embassy, but that is a much bigger project and will take a little longer as it involves moving a PNP outpost, getting rid of the clutter at the end of the road near the Japanese Embassy, but eventually we will have plenty of free parking in front of the Seafront Embassy compound for all of our Veterans. Also in the coming weeks the MMDA has agreed to paint parking stalls to make it easier for everyone to know where to park and to maximize our parking space.

The inner service road is a one-way road and so you will have to enter the road nearest to the gates of the Embassy compound and you will exit out nearest to the Cuneta Astrodome. Attached (see Parking Out Front of VA Seafront) is a diagram of the service road that shows the traffic pattern. We want to remind everyone that this is not Embassy property and is the host governments property that has generously allowed us this space and so please know that if you park anywhere else other than the designated (marked by signs) parking spots for Veterans, you will have to pay for the parking out of pocket or face the risk of being towed or ticketed.