ALKHOBAR, 28 April — A newly formed community organization in the Eastern Region joined the Accredited Community Partners of the Philippine Embassy under the supervision of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul and Supervising Welfare Officer Sotero Tornea signed a memorandum of agreement with the United Bicolanos (UB) represented by its founding president George Palencia in a simple ceremony held last Thursday at the Park Hotel here in Alkhobar.
UB became the 23rd ACP in the Eastern Region. Already in the list are OFW Congress, AFCSCOM, SAHI, Sangkapbuhay, FREOM, Gabay Kapwa, PICPA, PSME, IIEE, MOTHER, United Surigaonon, United Filipinos, United Muslims, Pag-asa, Kapit-Lakas, WMOWA, Overseas Negrenses, PICE, Ro Akeanon, COFWA, FILCAH, and the Novo Ecijanos.
The new group, which was only organized last year, is composed of Filipino workers from the six provinces of the Bicol region — Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
It has 400 members at present.
Palencia has a long record of serving his fellow Bicolanons working in Saudi Arabia. He first joined the Bicol Expatriates Saudi Arabia in 1991 and the Bicolnon in 1995 both in Riyadh. When his work was transferred to Jeddah in 1999, he was one of the initiators to organize the Bicol Saro group.
Apart from Palencia, the other interim UB officers are: Joel Villagarcia, executive vice president; Teddy Furio, vice president; Abelardo Regalado, secretary; Alex Antiquerra, assistant secretary; Danilo Sumalabe; treasurer; Malu Gacosta, assistant treasurer; Roque Millete, auditor; George Salomon, assistant auditor; Carlos Calinog, business manager; Bernie Fabricante, assistant business manager; Alberto Martinez, PRO; Nenita Relatores, assistant PRO.
Larry Barra and Alfredo Marantal were named as directors while Murry Demdam, Boy Relatores, and Omar Flordeliz were chosen as advisers. The group also elected provincial representatives, namely: Bernie Fabricante, Camarines Norte; Boy Relatores, Camarines Sur; Abe Regalado, Albay; Teddy Furio, Sorsogon; and Tony dela Rosa, Masbate.