HK$132,000 donations for the victims of the Southern Leyte landslides 

20 March 2006

The Filipino community in Hong Kong has raised at least HK$132,000 for the survivors and the families of the victims of the 17 February 2006 landslide in Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

The donations include HK$51,000 coursed through members of the Philippine Bankers’ Club of Hong Kong, HK$33,000 from the parishioners of Hong Kong’s St. Anne’s Church in Stanley, HK$21,038.60 received by BPI Remittance Centre, HK$19,000 from subscribers of cellphone provider Smartone Vodafone, and HK$8,110 from members of the Filipino community and the officers and staff of the Consulate General. The cash donation received by the Consulate General was deposited to the bank account of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

The Consulate General also received seven jumbo boxes of used clothes from the Filipino community. AFreight, one of the leading cargo companies catering to the Filipino community, delivered them to the BPI Foundation in the Philippines for free.

Last 2 March, BPI's Remittance-Overseas Market Group handed over a check for P114,343.45 to Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), the 14-year old network of companies and corporate foundations engaged in mobilizing resources of the private sector for disaster-affected communities.

The check donation represents the initial receipt from members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong following appeals for assistance made over Hong Kong radio shows, Good Evening Kabayan (GEK) and Philippines Tonight Show. Last 7 March, BPI Foundation also received 10 jumbo boxes of used clothes donated by the Filipino community. Cellphone provider Smartone Vodafone forwarded the HK$19,000-donation from its subscribers to the BPI Foundation. St. Anne’s Church has forwarded the cash donations it received to the affected parishes in southern Leyte. .