16 February 1943
Before the normal processes of government could be established over Mindanao, Col WENDELL W. FERTIG believed, and rightly so, that military governments must be set up, to prepare a firm ground upon which civil authority could stand and steadily function.
On 16 Feb 1943, Col FERTIG issued a proclamation establishing, in behalf of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of the Philippines in those areas under military control.
Civil government has been progressively established in those places where the guerrillas were organized.
Directors Of Civil Affairs
The Commanding Officer, 10th Military District, directly administered the civil affairs of all the different provinces, seeking advice from his Judge Advocate General and Staff on legal matters, and from the Director of Civil Affairs whose office was created later on the different provinces and who also served, in addition to other duties, as Liaison officer between the Army and the civil government. The following were the Directors of Civil Affairs for:
Davao )
Agusan ) — Mr. P. A. PELAYO
Surigao )
Misamis Oriental — Mr. JOSE VALDEHUEZA
Misamis Occidental )
Zamboanga )– Mr. FLORENTINO SAGUIN
Bukidnon — Mr. CARLOS FORTICH
Cotabato — Mr. M. A. CONCHA
On 10 Oct 1944, however, Col FERTIG ordered the abolition of the office of the Director of Civil Affairs in the province of Zamboanga, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Surigao, Agusan and Davao, with the exception of Lanao, Cotabato and Bukidnon, which were abolished at a much later time when conditions obtaining therein justified the action.
Governors
Agusan was placed under the military control of the 110th Division since its activation on or about 20 Nov 1942. Senior Board Member JOSE AZOTE was designated as Acting Governor of this province by the Guerrilla Command. The other officials subsequently chosen were:
Board Member ———– JOSE P. SATORRE
Provincial Treasurer —– QUIRICO BATTAD
Provincial Auditor ——- FERNANDO ORONDEZ
District Engineer ——– PASTOR LOZADA
Acting District Health
Officer —- Dr. GALO FRANCO
Acting Division Superin-
tendent of Schools —– BERNARDINO CARINO
Acting Provincial Fiscal — GABRIEL BANAAG
Provincial Agronomist —- PEDRO ROSALES
During the incumbency of JOSE AZOTE as Acting Governor, the seat of the government was in the interior of Buenavista. In the later part of 1943, Mr. JOSE ROSALES was installed as Governor of the province in place of JOSE AZOTE.
The Japs left Agusan on 28 Aug 1943, but came back in large numbers onin 15 Mar 1944, occupying one after another, Nasipit, Buenavista, Butuan, Cabadbaran and environs. The civil government officials, in the intense enemy mopping-up operations that followed, surrendered one by one. The guerrillas arrested the erring officials sometime in the later part of 1944. They, however, were released and reinstated due to the lack of men to take their places, but this action was without prejudice to the subsequent filing of charges against their when the Commonwealth Government shall have been restored.
In Surigao, on 1 August 1943, the Commanding Officer: l0th Military District, appointed Mr. PHOTCLICO EGAY as Acting Provincial Governor. The following were the other civil officials of the province:
Secretary to the Governor —– Mr. T. J. GERALDINO
Acting Provincial Treasurer —– Mr. FELIX ALA-AN
Acting Asst Prov Treasurer ——- Mr. T. APARICIO
Acting Provincial —– Mr. G. LAURENTE
Acting Cashier & Deputy —– Mr. G. GALEON
Acting District Engineer —– Mr. V. TIZON
Acting Asst District Engineer —– Mr. JOSE EGAY
Acting District Health Officer —– Mr. N. BUENDIA
The following were the Mayors of the different municipalities as appointed by the Commanding Officer, 10th Military District:
Mayor of Bacuag —– Mr. JUAN ALVARES
Mayor of Bislig —– Mr. SEMON MONTERO
Mayor of Cantilan —– Mr. JOSE ARREZA
Mayor of Carascal —– Mr. PATRICIO CASTRO
Mayor of Dinagat —– Mr. LORENZO BAURA
Mayor of General Luna —– Mr. JOSE GONZAGA
Mayor of Gigaquit —– Mr. TIMOTEO OMAY
Mayor of Hinatuan —– Mr. CANDIDO VIOLA
Mayor of Lanuza —– Mr. SERIO VETE
Mayor of Lianga —– Mr. SATURNINO PATERNO
Mayor of Lingig —– Mr. G. SILVOSA
Mayor of Loreto —– Mr. ANDRES OLACO
Mayor of Mainit —– Mr. ROSALEO MONGADO
Mayor of Numancia —– Mr. RICARDO PLATIL
Mayor of Placer —– Mr. MARCELO PATAGAN
Mayor of Surigao —– Mr. JUAN ALOYON
Mayor of Tago —– Mr. TOMAS PAREJA
Mayor of Tandag —– Mr. JAIME SERNA
In the province of Misamis Oriental, a civil government was also established. Due to the presence of the enemy along the Bukidnon-Misamis Oriental National Highway and capital town of Cagayan, the province of Misamis Oriental was divided into Eastern and Western portions.
The civil government of Western Misamis Oriental which covered the sector from West of Tagoloan River to the boundary of Misamis Oriental and Occidental was organized by virtue of the instructions issued by Col FERTIG on 11 Dec 1942.
PEDRO Sa. BACULIO was proclaimed the Military Provincial Governor. The Deputy Provincial Governors for the Eastern and Western Misamis Oriental were VICENTE B. DE LARA and FRANCISCO G. YSALINA, respectively.
In Misamis Occidental, ANGEL MEDINA, former Board Member, was appointed as Acting Governor in place of PORFIRIO VILLARIN, pre-war Governor, who had served under the Japanese government and at that time in Manila. Most of the provincial officials, whether elective or appointive, were restored to their respective positions by the Commanding Officer, 10th Military District.
In Lanao, the civil government started with the appointment on 18 Nov 1942 of Mr. MARCELO T. PAISO as Military Governor by Col FERTIG. This designation was changed to Provincial Governor on 1 Mar 1943. The temporary seat of the provincial capital was located at Kauswagan, Iligan. Pre-war Mayor LEO GARCIA of Iligan, having surrendered to the enemy, was replaced by JORGE RAMIRO on 13 Nov 1942. Seat of the government was at Dalipuga. RAMIRO was later relieved by PEDRO FORTUNADO. When about to assume office on 28 Nov 1943, FORTUNADO was captured by the Japs at Tuminobo. NARCISO ADEVA, the Provincial Secretary succeeded him temporarily on 1 Dec 1943. ADEVA later asked for relief, so he was succeeded by AQUILINO GONZAGA.
On 1 Dec 1942, DATU SAMPIANO was appointed Mayor of Free Malabang, pre-war Mayor NAGUIB JUANDAY having surrendered to the enemy. DATU SAMPIANO later also surrendered to the enemy and so PANANSARNA COMMANDER was appointed to succeed him on 24 Feb 1944. Unfortunately, PANANSARNA was killed during the enemy action in the encounter at Wawlan, Calibao, on 8 Mar 1944.
On 1 Dec 1942, Pre-war Mayor RIGA MAMBUAY who did not surrender to the enemy assumed his post. The rest of the civil officials appointed were:
Chief, Lanao Public Hospital —– Dr. ALIPIO VILLACORTA
District Land Officer —– ALEJANDRO ORDONA
Chief, Malaria Control Unit #4, —–
Bureau of Health —– Dr. GAUDENCIO R. VILLANUEVA
District Forester —– ANGEL C. LALLONGA
Division Superintendent of
Schools —– EDWARD M. KUDER
In Zamboanga, the civil government continued to function even after the surrender on 10 May 1942 with the seat of the government transferred to Dipolog from Zamboanga City. The Japanese installed Acting Governor FELIPE AZCUNA as Chief Executive of the province. However, on 18 Sept 1942, the guerrillas seized the local government in Dipolog and reestablished the Commonwealth Government therein.
On 7 Oct 1942, Judge FLORENTINO SAGUIN was appointed by the guerrilla high command as Military Governor. Judge SAGUIN, however, was relieved at the end of the year 1942 to become DCA for Zamboanga and Misamis Occidental and congressman-elect MATIAS RANILLO was appointed Provincial Governor. The other officials appointed by the military authorities were:
Board Member —– GUADALUPE ADAZA
Provincial Treasurer —– LAZARO ALFABETO
Provincial Fiscal —– LEONCIO S. HAMOY
Acting District Health Officer —– DR. PABLO S. HAMOY
Acting Provincial Auditor —– IRINEO BARBASA
Acting District Engineer —– J. PULIDO (Asst Civil
Engineer)
Acting Provincial Agricultural
Supervisor —– SIMEON ESTOCAPIO
Secretary to the Governor —– FLORENTINO A. CAD
In Bukidnon, Lieut WALDO MCVICKERS (now Major), with a handful of men, seized the local puppet government of Talakag on 29 Oct 1942, and re-established the local Commonwealth Government. Dr. CARLOS A. FORTICH was then appointed Governor of Free Bukidnon with the seat of government at Mailag.
The other officials appointed for Free Bukidnon were:
Board Member —– LOPE DAMASCO, Acting Governor for
sometime; TITO MACAYABAS, later
replaced by AMANDO NOBLE
Acting Provincial Treasurer —– Dr. FELIPE O. CEBALLOS, later
replaced by GUILLERMO TABICS
Provincial Auditor —– SANTIAGO MACEREN, surrendered
to enemy and later replaced by
RAMON FERNANDEZ
Acting District Health Officer —– DR. CORAZON A. CID
District Engineer —– ANTOLIN F. DIAZ
Acting District Engineer —– ENRIQUE GUERRERO
Provincial Secretary —– CIRIACO ALVAREZ, replaced by
FELIPE CEBALLOS, JR.
Provincial Agricultural
Supervisor —– FERNANDO TORRES
Deputy Governors —– CENON PAULICAN for Maramag,
Kibawe and Pantukan, later surr-
endered and served the puppet
government; MELECIO ALQUITELA for
Tankulan, Libona, Talakag, Imbatug
and Malitbog
Special Deputy Governors —– CECILIO LUMINARIAS,
ALIPIO URBINA, CATALINO DAMASCO
Asst Prov. Treasurer —– ALFREDO R. ESPLANDADA
Justices of the Peace —– JESUS MURILLO for Talakag and
Acting for Imbatug, Maluko,
Libona and Sumilao.
Judge DELFIN ROFILENA (Davao
City). Acting for Malaybalay
Local governments established in ail municipalities and municipal districts were placed under the 109th Division, except the municipal district of Malitbog which was placed under the 110th Division. However, due to enemy offensive on the last days of Oct 1943, in the area garrisoned by the 117th Infantry Regiment, where the seat of the free government was located, the civil government was disrupted. On account of the difficulty in getting a civil government function, the CO, 109th Division on 15 February 1944, issued a proclamation declaring that part of the province under a state of martial law.
Major TEOGENES VELEZ, Staff Judge Advocate, was designated as Military Lieutenant-Governor, in addition to his duties as SJA, 109th Division. A sub-provincial board was made of the Lieutenant-Governor as presiding officer and the sub-provincial Treasurer and Deputy Governor as members thereof.
The following were the officers of the sub-province:
Sub-Provincial Treasurer———– CECILIO ESCALERA
Sub-Provincial Auditor————- RAMON FERNANDEZ
Secretary to Governor————– ENGRACIO MELENDEZ
These sub-provinces however, were abolished on 6 Dec 1944. The civil government, after this was reorganized with the seat at Talakag and later due to Japanese attack of that place, the seat was moved to Taglimao, municipal district of Lumbia, Misamis Oriental, to which the Division Headquarters was transferred.
In the province of Cotabato, the provisional civil government was organized with the following officials appointed by the Headquarters, 10th Military District:
Governor —– M. A. GENCHA, also designat-
ed as Director of Civil Affairs.
Board Members —– TOMAS MANAWIS
JOSE L. GUERRERO
Acting Treasurer —– TOMAS FALGUI
Acting District Engineer —– CAYETANO MACARAIG
Acting Provincial Fiscal —— FRANCISCO ALTEA
Acting Provincial Auditor —– LEONCIO ALDAWA
Division Superintendent of
Schools —— JOSE HOMBREBUENO
District Health Officer —— DR. JUANITO NATIVDAD
The local governments were reestablished in guerrilla areas as fast as conditions permitted.
The unsurrendered USAFFE men who settled in some of the municipalities of districts restored the local government officials. In the municipal district of Manay for example, (north of Davao City) the old Mayor surrendered to the enemy and had been killed, so Mr. E. MAPAYO, a resident of this district, was elected as Mayor.
It is worthy to mention that Atty. BONIFACIO JAMIRO, Deputy Governor-at large of that sector, did his best to restore local officials of his districts. This was made possible with the help of Major (now Lt-Col) CLARO L. LAURETA, then the Regimental Commander of the 130th Infantry occupying the Davao Sector.
In the later part of 1943, the two made possible the organization of the local government of the following districts, with Mayors appointed who were then temporarily appointed, later concurred in and approved. by the Commanding Officer of the 10th Military District:
Monkayo ——
Mr. FELICIANO CERVANTES – Mayor
Mr. RAMON CABALUNA – Deputy
Governor for both Monkayo
and Compostela
Compostela —– Mr. JUANITO REGANIA – Mayor
Cateel —– Mr. GREGORIO DACUYCUY
Caraga —– Mr. LORENZO CALIBARA
Manay —– E. MAPAYO – Mayor
Baganga —– Mr. RICARDO REYES – Mayor
Mati —– Mr. PRIMITIVO GABONG
Camansa —– Mr. BARTOLOME PACLAING – Mayor
The Provincial Government Officials composed the following:
Provincial Governor —– Mr. PANTALEON PELAYO
Deputy Governor-at-large —– Mr. BONIFACIO JAMIRO
Deputy Governor of West Coast —- Mr. RAFAEL SANTOS
Acting Provincial Fiscal —– Mr. MARCELO BOLANDRES
Acting Provincial Auditor —– Mr. MIGUEL BORDEOS
District Engineer —– Mr. MARCELINO PAYOMO
District Health Officer —– Dr. BENITO ENRIQUES
AGRICULTURE: The war brought about keen struggle forexistence. Agriculture was
given more attention.
In Agusan, rice, corn, vegetables, camote, etc., were planted in the cultivated forest areas. Even sago flour, which very few people used to take and only in time of famine, became a much sought-for food.
But unlike other provinces of Mindanao, Surigao never suffered the shortage of food supply. Under the supervision of Mr. PANTALEON DE LOS REYES, who was appointed as Provincial Agriculture Supervisor, land cultivated for rice and corn, increased by three thousand hectares, making the total 35,000 hectares.
In Misamis Oriental and almost all provinces occupied by the guerrillas, Army Communal Farms were under cultivation. These were cultivated by civilians in the so-called “pagina system”. All the produce were for the Army.
Evacuees were permitted to cultivate abandoned parcels of land and to them went the produce. Short-season crops were produced intensively, in spite of unfavorable weather conditions during the period from Feb 1943 to Nov 1944, food shortage occurred due to heavy flood in free Cagayan which cost the lives of forty-seven persons and the loss of approximately 200 to 300 cavans of rice and corn in 1943. Locust infestation in Jun 1943 in Free Cagayan and the municipal district of Lumbia, destroyed approximately sixty percent of the standing crops.
In Zamboanga, farming suffered a great set-back during the period from June to November 1942 due to the heaviest and most destructive locust infestation. Almost all the palay and crops were destroyed by the pests. Intensive locust campaign was undertaken. After that calamity, came plague of rats, crop eating birds, insects and worms, as damaging as the locust infestation. The rice situation was very alarming; that of corn was less terrible. Not until the year 1944 was the situation very much improved.
In Misamis Occidental, agriculture suffered the same fate as that of Zamboanga – crops destroyed by locusts and rats. Small portions of lands were cultivated in this province.
In Lanao, most of the arable lands along the northern coast of the province and along the Illana Bay were abandoned. Most of the Christian inhabitants in these places sought refuge in Misamis Occidental and other safe places to escape Moro banditry, and because of Jap invasion, food problems became more acute. Farmers stopped farming and way to get food from the outside was barred by the pressure of the enemy. When flood occurred in the Mandulog District and Eastern Free Iligan farms were laid waste and several human lives lost.
In Bukidnon, before the war, cattle industry was flourishing, but this was virtually wiped out. People, like the other provinces above mentioned, sorted to agriculture going to the limit of cultivating forest areas. Same thing was with Cotabato except that there was shortage of food, mostly because of little harvest in view of the fact that the enemy was able to get hold and cart away a big part of what was harvested, coupled with the destruction occasioned by the existing emergency.
In Davao, food was the problem of each and every one, Army and civilians alike. The people who evacuated in the virgin forests, just as the people of other provinces, began clearing the forest for camotes, bananas, taro, etc. Rice and corn were planted, later. Later the food production campaign was started, extended and intensified.
Commerce and Industries
In the provinces of Agusan, Surigao, Oriental Misamis, Occidental Misamis and Zamboanga, merchants frequented the market place to sell their goods and commodities.
Business was retail. Articles sold were rice, corn, soap, salt, fish, sugar, vegetables and other foodstuffs. Slow-moving bancas were used by them in plying between Agusan and the Visayas. Productive industries consisted in the manufacture of tuba, nipa wine and nipa shingles. Weaving industry was lucrative.
In Lanao, periodic trips were undertaken by trades from Bohol, Negros, Siquijor, Cebu and Camiguin, bringing in sugar, clothing, dried and salted fish, some medicine, and other stuff. On their return, they brought with them, rice, corn and other foodstuffs, lacking in their places. Normal trade relations existed between Lanao and Misamis Occidental. This trades relation, however, between these two provinces and from other islands in the Visayas, were at times paralyzed due to active enemy patrols, both by land and sea. The Japs had the practice of hooking away the sailboats encountered at sea, confiscating the cargo, and making prisoners of the crew. Because of this, business declined and later, markets and retail stores were closed. Then sudden rise of the prices of commodities inevitably followed.
Unlike the other provinces above mentioned, Cotabato and Davao whose coastal areas had always been occupied by the enemy, and Bukidnon which is very far away from the coasts, could not fully well survive in inter-island commerce.
Salt and fish for example, are hard to obtain. Native cloth “pinocpos” and “saguran” derived from buri palm, which were brought in by some bancas from other provinces, were hard to secure. Some inhabitants however, were depending on selling the rice and corn or tobacco which they planted, although most of the time, could hardly be the basis of their commerce due to the fact that the Japanese at times, find time to lay their hands on the produce.
Price Fixing & Anti- Profiteering Committee
Due to the enemy occupation of the Philippines, importation and exportation were at standstill. Profiteering became rampant in Mindanao especially in Agusan, Surigao, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga, Lanao, Bukidnon, Cotabato and Davao.
For the benefit of the civilians especially and the army as well, Col FERTIG ordered the creation of the Provincial Emergency Control Board or the so-called Price Fixing and Anti-Profiteering Committee, for each province occupied by the Army and which was empowered to fix, control and determine the retail and wholesale prices of all goods, including foodstuffs within the province.
This Board consisted of the Provincial Governor as Chairman; the Provincial Treasurer, Division Superintendent of Schools, Provincial
Auditor and District Engineer as members. In every province, severe penalties were imposed on violators. However, due to absence of policemen at the time this body was created, Unit Commanders of the Tenth Military District were given authority to enforce the orders promulgated and adopted by the Board. Considerable benefits were derived in its activities by the suffering public.
However, due to the lack of supplies which actually existed that time, and basing on the hardships, sacrifices and risks in obtaining them, control of prices could hardly be made effective. In view of this and to solve this problem, the Food and Supply Administration was created.
This body was given P250,000 with which to operate and was charged with the intensification of food production and diversification of crops; dealing in rice and corn and other prime commodities during the emergency; controlling the supply to prevent profiteering; maintaining warehouses and rationing stock according to local demands; exercising a legal personality in the making of and entering into contracts and the promulgating of such regulations as to effectuate its authority. This, at least ameliorated the condition of supply and at least helped in the control of prices.
The Trading Post Administration (TPA)
The Trading Post Administration was created to meet the economic and social needs of the civilian population during the emergency; to stabilize the prices of commodities of prime necessity: to promote the development of local industries; to serve as a market for the produce of the people; to extend help to the needy; to serve as rehabilitation centers during and even after, the emergency. This Post, however, deals in buying the produce of the farmers and selling the same with no more than tea percent profit on every sale for overhead expenses and handing, and at ration basis.
In the province of Agusan, were two branches in Butuan, two in Buenavista, four in Cabadbaran, one in Nasipit and one in Jabonga. The manager of which was Governor JOSE ROSALES. In this province, The Trading Post Administration was started with an initial capital of P10,000.00. The province of Misamis Oriental started with an initial capital of P5,000.00 and managed by Mr. PRIMO SANTIAGO with its central office opened on 13 Oct 1944 at El Salvador, Tagnipa. Branch was in Cagayan-Alubijid-Initao area. Misamis Occidental had its central office at Calamba, Plaridel. This was managed by Mr. ROXAS.
Just like the three aforementioned provinces, Lanao Province had its own TPA with stores established et Baroy, Kolambugan, Bacolod, Kauswagan, Tangub and Dalipuga with Central Office at Kauswagan. This was managed by Congressman SALVADOR T. LLUCH.
Unlike the above named provinces, Surigao, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, Cotabato and Davao, did not have this TPA established. However,
stores similar to the TPA and the aim of which is the same – to ameliorate the living conditions of the people – were established. Some had the Trading Center and others had the so-called Communal Stores established which actually helped the public a lot.
Peace and Order
Peace and order, locally, during the guerrilla movements in the above-named provinces, was not a serious problem. Peace and order was maintained by the Sector Commanders with the organization of the regular guerrilla units, until later aided by the municipal police when the latter assumed their duties.
Justice of the Peace Courts were later appointed in some of these provinces by the Commanding Officer of the 10th Military District, although most of the offenses committed being between Army personnel and civilians. Prison compounds were maintained by Army authorities.
However, none of these provinces had been exempted from the state of confusion and disorder when frequented by enemy patrols or mopping-up operations.
Public Health and Sanitation
In all these provinces of Mindanao occupied by the Guerrilla Forces, many people suffered from malaria, which ranks first among all other sickness, and tropical ulcers due to lack of medicine, clothing, proper nutrition and scarcity of food supply.
In the province of Agusan, sixty percent of the people were either actually sick with malaria or had the disease in its latent stare, and many succumbed to the disease due to utter lack of medicine.
In the Province of Surigao, death rates were very high in almost all the municipalities and its surrounding areas. The government and Army, seeing the death rate very high, resorted to the establishment of the District Health Office on 1 Oct 1943. This greatly extended help to the civilian populace.
The same disease and sufferings were then prevailing in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Cotabato, and Davao.
All efforts and necessary measures, however, were exerted in all these provinces to fight the disease – surroundings and houses were kept clean and sanitary.
It was not until the early part of 1943, when medicine began reaching this island from Australia, that a semblance of a rising barometer was noted in – the health condition in these provinces. Health conditions became ameliorated, some of the medicines that arrived having been given to the provinces mentioned above.
Education
Education during the guerrilla days were practically abandoned. The enemy was busy patrolling in many areas so that opening the schools was risky. An attempt however, to open schools in the provinces of Agusan, Surigao, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao, Zamboanga and Bukidnon, was made. The services of teachers was purely voluntary. These schools did not function fer a long time because of enemy action.
Civilian Relief Administration
To carry into effect the spirit of the telegraphic instructions of Gen MANUEL ROXAS, dated 8 Apr 1942, concerning relief work, The Civilian Retief Administration was created. The continuation of the relief was considered absolutely necessary to aid the needy who were unable to gain their own economic support. Congressman EUGENIO S. DEL ROSARIO of Misamis Occidental, was made the Director of Civilian Relief Administration by Col WENDELL W. FERTIG.
Later the position of the Director of Civilian Relief Administration was abolished. However, the Provincial Retief Committees provided for in the instructions of General ROXAS dated 8 Apr 192 continued to function as relief agencies. It had the sole power to authorize the disbursements of relief funds. In each province the Provincial Relief Committee, was composed of the Provincial Governor, as Chairman; the Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, Division Superintendent of Schools and District Engineer, as members.
In the province of Agusan, for lack of funds, application for relief filed in 1943 were acted upon only in March 1944.
In the province of Misamis Oriental, Father HAGGERTY, Civilian Relief Administration Representative, distributed cash benefits which were extended to wives and children of soldiers killed or missing in line of duty, and to all others entitled thereto.
In the province of Lanao, there were 182 beneficiaries, sixteen were civilian indigents, and ‘the rest were families of soldiers. Fifty-nine of the 293 dependents were children of the civilian indigents. Due to lack of funds, many beneficiaries have not been paid regularly since November 1943. In the rest of the provinces, beneficiaries had not also been paid due to the same reason — lack of funds.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM), Unpublished Manuscript
