ALKHOBAR — Three new Filipino community groups in the Eastern Province have gained recognition from the Philippine Embassy under the POLO’s Accredited Community Partnership program.
Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr. identified the new partners as the Concerned Overseas Filipino Workers Association (COFWA) headed by Antonio Coloma, the Filipino Community of Al-Ahsa (Filcah) headed by Marilou Aquino-Araniador, and the Samahang Novo Ecijanos headed by Edilberto Garcia Jr.
In a signing ceremony held at the Park Hotel in Alkhobar recently, the three new organizations vowed to assist the embassy in providing welfare and labor-related services to OFWs in the eastern region.
Rasul, who presided during the 1st Quarter Meeting of ACPs in Alkhobar, said the 3 new members brings to 22 the number of ACPs in the region, which include two umbrella organizations — Afcscom and OFW Congress-EP — various professional associations and regional groupings.
The POLO ACP program was conceived to enlist the support and assistance of cause-oriented organizations in view of the limited manpower resources of the embassy.
ACP members’ contributions and support are tapped in the areas of crisis intervention, reintegration program, policy review and advocacy, cultural and sports development, among others.
Supervising Welfare Officer Sotero Tornea, Jr. briefed the ACP members about OWWA’s plans and programs for this year, followed by a report on POLO-OWWA accomplishment report for 2001 by Administrative Assistant Ma. Lourdes Sedano.
Rasul also briefed the ACP leaders of the conduct and result of the bicameral public hearing on the Absentee Voting bill held in Riyadh on March 16.
Assistant Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre discussed the objectives, rationale and mechanics of the recently-launched Barya Mo, Buhay Ko program in Riyadh and the setting up of the Distressed Workers Fund.
The program, which is a project of the Filipino community, will also be launched in the Eastern Province with a separate Fund Management Committee.
