PHL bankers' club in HK to waive cable charges for donations to flood victims

Philippine banks in Hong Kong are waiving cable charges for donations to the relief drive for the victims of recent floods in the Philippines.

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong said Sunday the waiving of the cable charges will be until September 7, and only to specific accounts.

In an advisory posted on its website Sunday afternoon, the Consulate General said the waiver covers accounts of the Philippine Bankers Club (PBC), including:

Bank of the Philippine Islands

BPI Foundation
- Peso CA: 0011-1530-89

Ayala Foundation:

- US Dollar SA: 0014-0463-48
- Peso CA: 0011-1335-41

Metrobank

Metrobank Foundation

- Peso SA: 066-3721540864

Philippine Red Cross

- Peso: 151-3-041631228
- Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2

GMA Kapuso Foundation

- Peso SA: 3-098-51034-7
- Dollar SA: 2-09800244-2

Philippine National Bank

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation

- Peso: 419539500013
- Dollar: 419539500021

Philippine Red Cross:

- Peso: 375283500034
- Dollar: 375283500042
GMA Kapuso Foundation:
- Peso: 121003200017
- Dollar: 121003200025

Banco de Oro

BDO Foundation Inc. FAO Relief Operations

- Peso CA: 3008026717

GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc.

- Peso SA: 004690022189
- Dollar SA: 104690072135

Philippine Red Cross

- Peso SA: 453-0018647

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. Sagip Kapamilya

- Peso: 003930114199
- Dollar: 103930081622

The Consulate General also said the transactions will be subject to the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance.


It added the PBC "reserves the right to refuse the transaction should the remitter fail to abide by the said ordinance." — LBG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

US Filipinos organize fund drive for flood victims

Over the last week extremely-heavy rainfall battered Manila and the northern Philippines wreaking havoc on the Philippine capital and surrounding areas much like Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. The death toll from the flooding has already risen to 51. More than 1.2 million people are affected, including 850,000 who have been displaced from their homes. Although the current rains are expected to recede, many more storms and typhoons are still expected to worsen the situation.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), with member organizations throughout the US calls on our families and friends to once again lend our love, prayers and monetary support to flood-affected communities by activating its Bayanihan Relief for Flood Victims in the Philippines.

NAFCON is collecting exclusively monetary relief  and ensures that donations go quickly and directly to the communities of the Philippines who are adversely affected by the typhoon identified as Saola. Donations will be coursed through Migrante International, our partner organization on the ground with a long and respected reputation of serving Filipino communities.

“Our kababayan back home can count on overseas Filipinos in the US. In response to Ondoy and Sendong, NAFCON along with other supporters has raised nearly $100,000 and we will continue to support our families and friends in need.” said Terry Valen, NAFCON President.

NAFCON has established cash and check collections centers throughout the US and will take donations via Paypal at http://tinyurl.com/nafconrelief3 or on our website at http://www.nafconsua.org/.

For mailed checks please make payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan” and send to 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. On memo please write: NAFCON Bayanihan Relief and your city of residence. Donations of $250 or more will be tax deductible.  Please include return address with donations.

For more information on fundraising and relief activities in your area please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you or go to our website.

Northeast: Anne Corotan ne@nafconusa.org (516) 901-1832

Midwest: Lorena Buni mw@nafconusa.org (224) 678-3415

Norcal: Ryan Leano nc@nafconusa.org (626) 534-4971

Socal: Alex Montances sc@nafconusa.org (253) 381-7444

Local Monetary Drop/Send Sites (Please make all checks payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan”)

Northeast: Philippine Forum: 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY

Midwest:         Good Shepherd Congregation:          4707 W. Pratt Ave Lincolnwood, Il 60712

Norcal: Filipino Community Center: 4681 Mission St. San Francisco, Ca 94112

Socal: Tulong Sa Bayan 519 S. Spring St., LA, CA 90013

source: asianjournal.com

Australia provides P88 million for flood relief efforts in Luzon

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, has announced Australia will assist Filipinos who have been affected by severe flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas by making available up to PhP 88 million (A$2 million) in food and emergency supplies, to be delivered through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

As part of its disaster preparedness program in the Philippines, Australia works with partners to pre-position emergency supplies, which enables a rapid response to natural disasters and emergencies.

The Australian Government has provided PhP 44 million (A$1 million) for emergency kits for distribution to families which include medical supplies, mosquito nets and water containers, and another PhP 44 million (A$1 million) for 1000 tons of rice.

Senator Carr expressed his particular concern for those families who had been without a home for up to two weeks. “We’re providing $1 million to WFP and we’re backing that up with nearly $1 million made available to the Red Cross for those in need,” he said.

“The Australian Government has made these items available through the PRC and WFP so that they can be immediately accessed in serious humanitarian situations, such as the current flooding in and around the capital,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Tweddell said.

“We know that prompt response is essential to saving lives during disasters. Australia, through our arrangements with the Philippine Red Cross and WFP, is able to assist the Philippine Government to respond quickly and effectively.”

Officials of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) visited flood-affected areas this week. They have been working closely with the Philippine Government and other donors to ensure the Philippines has the support it needs to manage the crisis.

“We commend the Philippine Government for its quick response, including widespread search and rescue operations for those stranded by floods and buried by landslides,” Ambassador Tweddell said.

Over the past seven years, Australia has provided more than Php760 million in humanitarian and emergency aid to the Philippines. Australia works closely with the Government and other partners to manage disasters and to help people adapt to climate change.

Australia’s program has a focus on Metro Manila and supports hazard and risk analysis, risk-sensitive land use planning, community-based disaster preparedness, capacity building on urban search and rescue, and providing safer settlements for those living in danger areas.

Australia and the Philippines have a strong relationship, underpinned by over 50 years of partnership in development cooperation. The aid partnership with the Philippines is one of Australia’s largest, with more than Php20 billion in official development assistance in the past five years. Australia’s current annual aid to the Philippines is estimated at Php5.5 billion – placing Australia among the top grant donors to the Philippines.

For more information about AusAID’s work on humanitarian and disaster response in the Philippines, visit the Australian embassy website.

source: gmanetwork.com