After the United Filipino Organization announced last week that is was raising funds for the victims, LBC said it will provide sea cargo services for in-kind donations.
“As an international company servicing the needs of Filipinos worldwide LBC joins in the global efforts to provide assistance to families in the Philippines devastated by…Ondoy,” said Hugo Bonilia, LBC Mundial Corp., USA president and chief executive officer.
He said all donated items coursed through LBC USA will be sent to the LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation in the Philippines.
The foundation, he added, will distribute the goods to various non-profit organizations conducting relief efforts in the affected communities of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
“As of Oct. 1, all LBC branches in the U.S. are designated as the drop-off points for in-kind donations,” Bonili said, adding that LBC is in partnership with the ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya for cash donations.
UFO president Olive Yana said LBC Saipan branch manager Val Gatchalian initially provided their group 10 empty boxes.
As of yesterday, three LBC boxes were filled up with donations from Filipino groups and local residents, she said.
Yana said UFO and LBC Saipan want to ensure that all donations will be received by ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ major broadcast network.
Those who want to donate can drop the items at her residence in Susupe. For more information, call Yana at 234-6529 or UFO secretary Annamae Adaza at 483-5237.
“We encourage everyone to send cup noodles and other ready to eat food items. Every day counts for our people who are in need,” she said.
Anyone may donate cash, canned goods, noodles, rice, crackers, clothing, footwear, towels, blankets, cookware, utensils, pampers, daily consumables like bath and detergent soaps, toothbrush and toothpaste and first aid kits, UFO’s Minda Castro said.
Yana said cash donations will be coursed through the Philippine consulate.
UFO has drop boxes for cash donations, and they are located at the KWAW radio station, the Filipino Workers Resource Center of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office — all on the ground floor of the Marianas Business Plaza — and at Drop Off Laundry near Happy Market in Garapan.
Yana said only UFO officers and leaders are authorized monetary collectors. These are individuals with an official solicitation letter written on the UFO letterhead and enclosed in the official UFO envelop.
