PCGNY.net | News Release

New York Consulate remits P813,841.37 for Bicol typhoon victims

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE - NEWS RELEASE
09 February 2007

NEW YORK --- Consul General Cecilia Rebong reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo that the Philippine Consulate General in New York remitted Php 813,841.37 (the peso equivalent of US$17,025.97) to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) for the victims of Typhoon Reming in Bicol. The Consulate General made the remittance on February 7 thru the Philippine National Bank in New York, which also waived the transmittal fee. The Consulate General has informed PNRC of the remittance through letters to PNRC Chair, Senator Richard Gordon, and Secretary General Alma De Leon.

Consul General Rebong reported that the substantial cash donation came from the generosity of the Filipino community in New York, New Jersey and other state under the Consulate General’s jurisdiction.

Rebong said that the Consulate General first issued advisories on how to help the typhoon victims in December 2006, giving the community various options on how to help. According to her, donations soon started coming in beginning from organizations that co-sponsored last year’s nine-day Simbang Gabi. The co-sponsoring organizations donated the proceeds of each evening’s second collection for the typhoon victims. The Post also began receiving check and cash donations from individuals (some of whom requested to remain anonymous), families and organizations. Visitors to the Consulate General also opened up their hearts (and wallets) for the typhoon victims by dropping cash donations into a donation box that the Consul General asked to be installed at the consular processing section.

Rebong also reported that some donors opted to give their contributions through other organizations such as the Bicol National Association of America (BNAA) and ABS-CBN Foundation. The BNAA-New Jersey Chapter conducted its own fund-raising and is sending the donations directly to the Diocese of Legaspi. The Filipino Reporter, the most widely-read Fil-Am newspaper in the area has raised $20,516.00 (as of February 2) and will also directly send the donation to the Diocese of Legaspi.

Aside from donating cash, the Filipino community generously gave in-kind assistance (i.e., clothes and canned goods). To facilitate shipment of these donations, Consul General Rebong said that she has personally requested door-to-door forwarders to waive the shipment fee. According to the Consul General, the responses have been positive. To date, cargo forwarding companies FOREX and Port Jersey have already cooperated with BNAA for the shipment of such donations.