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Local Filipino groups asked to help Katrina victims
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Posted on Sep 15 2005
Filipinos in the CNMI are being encouraged to extend any help they can to victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans, Louisiana a couple of weeks ago.
Philippine Consul General Wilfredo Maximo said that, although the Filipino population in the Commonwealth is relatively small compared to other states, he is still asking the assistance of his compatriots on the three islands.
Maximo said he would gather representatives of all Filipino organizations this week for a briefing.
The Philippine Consulate on Saipan last week released a statement extending to the CNMI the appeal of Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Alberto del Rosario for the local Filipino community to help victims of Katrina. Del Rosario issued his appeal on Sept. 5.
Del Rosario affirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and all Philippine consulates in the U.S. are ready to receive check donations from members of the community. The check donations must be payable to the American Red Cross.
Philippine Foreign Service officers and staff in the U.S. initially committed to donate at least $10,000 for the victims. National Federation of Filipino American Association president Loida Nicolas-Lewis also pledged $10,000 from her personal savings.
The U.S. diplomat said all check donations received by Philippine embassies and consulates will be gathered and turned over to the American Red Cross as the collective donation of the overseas Filipino community.
The ambassador promised transparency in the donations, saying the names of all donors and the corresponding amounts donated will be posted on the embassy website, www.philippineembassy-usa.org.
Del Rosario said the Philippine Embassy in the U.S. would also issue periodic public announcements to give a running tally of all donations received by all Philippine Foreign Service posts in the U.S.
