JEDDAH, 30 August 2004 — The Kasapi Congress, a coalition of Filipino associations in Jeddah, will be relaunching its Kapihan on Sept. 17 to provide the community a forum to discuss matters concerning Overseas Filipinos.
Kasapi chairman Rudy Dianalan said among the topics to be discussed during the opening day is a proposed position paper to be presented to Vice President Noli de Castro, whose visit to the Kingdom is reportedly being worked out.
Topics would range from welfare and protection of OFWs, especially in light of local security and labor developments; the status of new Philippine rules and regulations affecting migrant workers; reintegration, savings, and investment opportunities for OFWs; amendments to the Migrant Workers law pending in Congress; proposed changes to the Overseas Absentee Voting act; and how the present situation in the Philippines is affecting Filipinos abroad.
De Castro has been recently appointed as presidential adviser on OFW Affairs and his visit would give an opportunity to FW groups in the Kingdom to push for their concerns, Dianalan said. Among the resource speakers to be invited are key officials from the Philippine Consulate and knowledgeable personalities in the community.
Saudi Arabia is to host more than 900,000 OFWs, the second biggest after the United States.
For more more details and suggestions, the following Kasapi officers may be conacted: Rudy Dianalan, Vic Aguila as vice chairman and Gil Manese as secretary-general. The Kapihan organizing committee members are John Asperilla, Jhoe Usman, Romy Bani, Boy Cornejo, and Corly Obtinalla.