Support, donations from OFWs pour

Press Release
29 September 2009

Support, donations from OFWs pour like “Ondoy” rains
OFW group leading relief drive thankful, give assurance that donations are in good hands and will be sent to typhoon victims

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East that first initiated a relief drive for typhoon “Ondoy” victims in the Philippines leading the Filipino Communities and Filipino Organizations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other middle eastern countries today said support and donations from OFWs pour like “Ondoy” rains.

“Barely two (2) days when our Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East initiated the releif drive to gather donations for typhoon victims in Manila and nearby provinces, we have already received several boxes of clothes, goods and cash pledges from fellow OFWs, their organizations and friends in almost areas where there are OFWs concentration especially in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and in Kuwait,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said reports from different Migrante chapters that formed coordinating teams to gather and accept reliefs stated that they have been receiving calls and querries from fellow OFWs where to get in touch with them as they have gathered donations, mostly clothes and goods, for typhoon victims.

Monterona said last night Migrante-Al Khobar had initiated a meeting among Filipino organizations to discuss their collaborative efforts and initiatives to gather support and donations from fellow OFWs for the typhoon victims.

Bob Fajarito, Chairperson of Migrante-Jeddah chapter, said he received numerous calls since yesterday from fellow OFWs asking where they could deliver their donations, and upon instruction of the location of Migrante-Jeddah head quarters, boxes of goods and clothes were delivered to Migrante-Jeddah HQ.

“Some have brought halala (saudi riyals coins), in which our Migrante officers have taught that they should have make coin bank for those individual OFW willing to donate 1 riyal for this noble cause,” Monterona added.

Monterona said same overwhelming response from OFWs in Riyadh and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, in Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and in other Emirates of UAE.

In Jeddah, several OFWs working in different establishments and government offices have given their donations such as OFWs working at King Fahad Arm Forces Hospital, King Khaled National Guard Hospital, Saudi German Hospital, International Medical Center and several Philippine Schools who have convey their pledges to Migrante relief coordinating teams in Jeddah.

In Riyadh, KGS-Migrante Chairperson Eric Jocson reported that there are now 7 boxes of goods and clothes at KGS HQ; and OFWs working at Semiesi Hospital, King Saud Medical Center, Saudi Security Forces, and Prince Sultan Hospital have conveyed their pledges as well.

While in United Arab Emirates, Migrante-UAE Secretary-General Nhel Morona has been receiving pledges from OFWs organizations and individuals who are willing to give their donations.

“I have been receiving pledges and querries where to send their donations from fellow OFWs in Qatar and Kuwait in which I forwarded to the attention of our Migrante-Qatar and Kuwait chapters,” Monterona added.

Monterona said though Migrante relief coordinating teams are having a problem in sending these goods and clothes in the Philippines, they are now in contact with Cargo forwarders in their respective areas so that the boxes of goods and clothes they have gathered will be sent home with utmost priority and as soon as possible.

“We are thankful to our fellow OFWs without any hesitation responded to our call “Sagip migrante at pamilya, sama-sama sa pagtulong para sa mga sinalanta ng bagyo”; we assure them that the donations (cash, goods, clothes, and other things) they have entrusted to us will reach to beneficiaries -typhoon victims in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as relief efforts by Migrante in Manila has started yesterday in some OFWs communities,” Monterona added.

Monterona said he has already informed Migrante relief coordinating teams to properly document, issue acknowledgement receipt, remittance receipt, and take photos of all donations it received and in due time will publicly announce all donations received in the name of transparency.

“To those who are questioning our noble intention as we are branded by the Arroyo government as “leftist”, all we could say is “Sama-sama na lang tayo sa pagtulong”,” Monterona averred.

Monterona opined the Filipino communties and OFWs organizations in the Middle East have made the right choice of entrusting their donations to Migrante and other People’s organizations that are providing genuine service unlike the Arroyo government that is only good in posturing but actually giving lip service and has been criminally negligent to its people by allegedly diverting the 800-M Emergency fund that is intended to emegrecy situation but was used for her lavish foreign trips.

“Could we blame the people, our fellow OFWs if they could not anymore entrust their donations to the perceived corrupt Arroyo government?” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012