Filipino communities to form umbrella organisations

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Filipino groups in Qatar will be creating umbrella organisations to implement future projects and events besides hosting the Philippine Independence Day celebration.

During a meeting at the Philippine embassy yesterday morning, vice consul Melvin Almonguera told leaders of various groups that the proposed system would make information dissemination easier and faster.

“Given that it is critical in the success of every event, there is a need for streamlining each group,” he said. Fewer than 50% of the 135 accredited organisations in the embassy have been responding to their circulars sent via e-mail, according to the official.

The move will  allow embassy officials, as well as community leaders, to monitor and get updates from each group.

The vice consul stated that a series of consultations should be held first before its implementation. Culture attaché Richard Billedo echoed Almonguera’s statements, saying that a signing of memorandum of agreement  of all stakeholders would follow. 

“We will then call it the Alliance of Filipino Communities,” he said. At least eight categories will be created, including fraternities, sports, business, and regional groups.

Those which have the same objectives and goals, like the Philippine Professional Organisation (PPO) Qatar, will be under one umbrella organisation.

PPO currently has a number of members which included accountants, architects, radiologists, nurses, engineers  and radiologists. Other professionals like physical therapists and teachers also want to join the  group. PPO chairman Lyndon Magsino has announced that membership is free of charge.

Billedo noted that under the present set up, only the Philippine Independence Day Organising Committee (PINOC) seemed to represent the whole Filipino community.

“But with the proposed system, PINOC will  become a regular committee,” he said.

During the meeting, 2013 PINOC chairman Flor Cabrito urged overseas Filipino workers to attend the Independence Day celebration on June 14 at the Sheraton Doha. The flag-hoisting ceremony will be held at the embassy at 6am.

The day will see  the launch of the “Lingkod OFWs sa Qatar” which aims to bring the services of the embassy and its attached agencies like the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Office and Social Security System (SSS) closer to the people.

It will also provide OFWs all the information needed in securing documents like passports, affidavit of support and clearances.

Cabrito earlier said that they were expecting around 20,000 OFWs for this year’s celebration. A number of activities have been lined up which include trade fair, food festival, a magic show, face painting, children’s show, cultural programmes, “Kantahan, Sayawan, Bandahan sa Doha” (singing, dancing and bands), transhow, flower show, medical mission and Gupitan Pinoy (haircut).