DSWD to arrange for customs clearance of donations

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will arrange for the swift Customs clearance of donations for victims of tropical storm "Ondoy" (Ketsana). Philippine officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) disclosed this to Filipinos based there, saying this covers food, clothing, medicine or equipment. A report on the UAE-based news site Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes.com) said this was the latest instruction reaching the Philippine Consulate General from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). All donations should be sent to the DSWD Building, Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City, Philippines. Consul General Benito Valeriano said this will ensure seamless coordination among government agencies in the immediate delivery of imported relief goods and equipment to their intended recipients. “It will also ensure that goods are properly delivered and duly received by the recipients," he said. He also said the Health Department has sent a priority list of medical supplies and equipment needed for the relief and rehabilitation in affected areas to the diplomatic missions. "Donors are urged to send them immediately," he added. Meanwhile, the ongoing donation campaign of the Filipino Community (Filcom) in Dubai and the Northern Emirates has netted Dh74,156 in remittances to various agencies and foundations. Robert Ramos, chairman of the FILCOM Organizing Committee, said the campaign for Typhoon Ondoy victims can easily hit 100,000 dirhams. “We urge every donor to e-mail with the attachment of remittance slip to Mercy Macalalad PICPA at mercedes.macalalad@yahoo.com and Elsa Fahrer at elsafahrer@yahoo.com for proper recording and monitoring," he said. The tentative schedule of delivery of one container of blankets, clothes and other in-kind donations is on October 10. "We need volunteers to pull out boxes of relief items at the donor’s warehouse near Dragon Mart to be delivered to Reef Mall for immediate sorting and packaging. The container has to be returned to Frico Warehouse on the same day. Further details and confirmation will be disseminated to everyone once available," he said. Earlier, the Al Ghurair Group of Companies donated 100 boxes of in-kind donations and shipped to Manila through DHL. Cathay Pacific is also running a donation campaign. Clifford Rasquinha, marketing officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, said all industry colleagues are encouraged to give out blankets and clothing, canned or dry food, toiletries and medicines for skin, cough, colds, respiratory and gastro diseases. - GMANews.TV