WASHINGTON D.C.- Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario has appealed “to all Filipinos, friends of the Philippines and concerned groups and individuals to extend their helping hand to the victims of this tragedy.”
He said the Philippine embassy will accept donations in cash, check of money order payable to the Philippine embassy. He said all donations will be acknowledged and money collected will be transmitted to the Philippine National Coordinating Council which is an inter-agency group charged with undertaking disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

 

This came as Filipino Americans in the metropolitan area began to raise funds to help the more than 1,500 survivors in the mudslide-stricken villages in Southern Leyte.
First to respond was the Washington-based Philippine American Foundation which announced a P1.1 million (about $20,000) grant to go towards building new homes for survivors of the mudslides as well as those from surrounding areas.
Another Filipino American organization, the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, has also scheduled a series of fund-raising drives next month to provide funds for the construction of houses for the displaced evacuees.
The PAFC, under its new president, Mencie Hairston, held an emergency meeting to discuss ways on how to help the victims. The meeting was covered by the local TV stations Feb. 22.
In announcing the P1.1 million grant, Irene Natividad, executive director of PAF, said: “In the 20-year history of the Foundation, we have found that communities cannot be recreated without providing shelter.”
“For victims of mudslides in the same area two years ago, the Foundation also gave a similar P1.1 million contribution to the Department of Social Welfare and Development towards a housing project in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Malacanang Palace. That housing was to be inaugurated this month but ceremonies were postponed due to this latest natural disaster,” Natividad said.
Natividad added that “the Foundation will work with DSWD again for this next housing project. We assume that the agency will locate a stable area where homes can be built for villagers who survived this year’s mudslides.”
The Foundation urged Filipino Americans to be generous and contribute to the many needs of families who were hurt or displaced. PAF said it hopes that its contribution will be the catalyst for more such donations from the Filipino American community.
This latest grant from the Foundation will be the fourth in a series that has focused on construction of new homes.
In appealing for donations, Ambassador Del Rosario said that in response to the Philippine government’s request for assistance, the United States government had dispatched 2 US military ships and will also provide funds for the response efforts.
 The United Nations, the ambassador said, will send a special disaster team to assess needs in the calamity area and the government of Japan will likewise provide relief support. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies had released emergency funds to address the needs of the survivors.
The embassy said the names of all donors will be posted in the Philippine embassy website.
Contact persons for the donation are Ms. Cynthia Tayam: DL (202) 467-9381 or dcpefinance@aol.com or Ms. Cecile Tomas: DL (202) 467-9403. They may also be reached through the Embassy trunkline which is (202) 467-9300.
Funds to be raised by the PAFC will be channeled to Gawad Kalinga, an existing organization in the Philippines which will construct new houses for the survivors of the landslide who lost all their homes.