The Filipino community in the Eastern Province is raising funds and soliciting clothing materials for the Filipinos in Central and Southern Philippines, which were ravaged by the typhoon Fengshen recently. The appeal for help was made during a meeting of all Filipino community leaders this weekend. About 300 people perished and million pesos worth of crops and properties were destroyed as a result of the typhoon. “A letter is now being circulated through various community organizations appealing for help and support,” said labor attaché David Des T. Dicang, who chaired the meeting of the community leaders. The provinces of Iloilo and Aklan suffered the brunt of the typhoon. “In the province of Aklan people are without food even though the floods have subsided. People are confronted with waist-deep mud. Burying the dead has become a big problem; dead bodies are now piled at the town plaza,” said Mary Jane P. Tupas, who is from Kalibo, Aklan. Iloilo is also devastated, according to Roilo Alojado, a community leader from Jubail. “In many towns, people are without food, water, and basic needs such as clothing. We have received personal appeals from many of our countrymen from these provinces. We should help them,” Alojado said. In kind donations, such as clothes and non-perishable food stuff, like canned goods, may be sent in care of Mary Jane P. Tupas, cellphone 050-7886413, at Mohammad Dossary Hospital in Al Khobar. Filipinos in the Eastern Province who are donating money should get in touch with their respective community organizations for instruction where to remit their financial assistance. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Eastern Province, in coordination with all community groups in the region, is now identifying a bank account where monetary donations will be channeled. __
