20 January 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Doha and the Philippine Consulates General in Hong Kong, SAR and Toronto continue to remit additional cash donations from the Filipino communities in their jurisdictions for the victims of the series of typhoons that hit Luzon late last year. “The Department is continuously receiving reports from Philippine Posts abroad stating that additional cash donations for the typhoon victims were being remitted to the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippine National Red Cross,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said.

In Doha, the Qatar International Christian Ministry (QICM), a multinational religious organization composed largely of Filipinos, turned over to the Embassy the amount of QR 1,929.00 (PhP29,636.32) as donation for the typhoon victims. The amount in the form of a Doha Bank cheque was personally handed over by QICM head, Mr. Enrique Victoria, and remitted via diplomatic pouch to the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

The Filipino community in Hong Kong has remitted through the Consulate General the amount of HK$ 18,875 as additional donation for the emergency relief and rehabilitation assistance funds of the PNRC for the typhoon victims.  Further, the Filipino community collected at least 65 boxes of relief goods and HK$ 52,178.60 in cash through the Operation Tulong Mula sa Hong Kong, an initiative of the Philippine Bankers in Hong Kong.  The relief goods and cash donations were divided among PNRC, NDCC and the Philippine Relief and Development Services.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General in Toronto, Canada reported to Secretary Romulo that additional donations for the typhoon victims were made by the Zambales Association of Ontario (CAD$ 520) and some of its members (CAD$ 225), Club Filipino of Brampton (CAD$1,801.15), Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Toronto (CAD$ 500) and Ms. Maggie de Guzman (CAD$ 50). The donations were remitted to the NDCC and PNRC.  END
 
 

/jay