JEDDAH, 23 September — Three umbrella organizations based in Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Region have formed an alliance with the aim of pushing for the concerns of overseas Filipinos.
The OFW Congress of Riyadh, OFW Congress of the Eastern Region (Alkhobar and Dammam), and the Kasapi Congress of Jeddah sealed their alliance by signing a memorandum of agreement on Friday at the Tropicana Restaurant.
Signing the agreement, according to a Kasapi press release, were Isagani Manalo, president of OFW Congress - Riyadh; Jose Avanceña, president of OFW Congress - Eastern Province; and Benjamin B. Garcia, chairman of Kasapi.
As stipulated in the agreement, the signatories will:
• consult each other on issues, legislations, regulations and all matters affecting OFWs in the kingdom and worldwide;
• build consensus among their constituents and among the parties to come up with a unified stand and one solid action plan that represent the desires and aspirations of OFWs in Saudi Arabia;
• jointly advocate and campaign to resolve common causes, issues and concerns for the benefit of OFWs and carry out related activities and tasks for the fulfillment of common goals and objectives; and
• coordinate and integrate whenever possible, their programs, projects and policies for the economic, cultural and social upliftment of OFWs, their families and OFW associations in the Kingdom.
The Kingdomwide alliance is the first ever within the Filipino community, which boasts of more than 500 community, civic, professional, sports, ethnic, and other organizations.
Induction ceremony
The signing of the memorandum followed the induction of Kasapi officers for the year by Vice Consul Jose Jacob.
The executive officers are Benjamin Garcia, chairman; Rudy Dianalan, vice chairman; Gil Manese, secretary-general; Gerry Cuares, deputy secretary-general for advocacy and policy; Raffy Campiao, deputy secretary-general for assistance to nationals; Omar Hadji Mitchel, deputy secretary-general for culture and sports; and Edilberto Rufino, deputy secretary-general for reintegration.
Kasapi’s committee chairmen and co-chairmen are: Corlito Obtinalla and Mauricio M. Marzo, ways and means; Bennie Duremdez and Saibatol Dalos, political and government affairs; Vicente Aguila, livelihood; Mohammad Pedro Holanda and Edwin Mongue, education and training; Gregg Quimos, cultural affairs; Evelyn Santos, honorary chair for cultural affairs and audit; Usman Islao, religious affairs; Rams Gunao, welfare and protection; Romulo Bani, finance and planning; Alvaro (John) Asperilla III, public information; Billy Felipe, publication and press relations; Nort Areglado, blue ribbon and ethics.
Edilberto Rufino, entrepreneural development; Estelito Martin, membership; Rodolfo Cornejo and Elmar Chongco, sports; Caesar Lontok and Ding Miranda, external affairs; Ding Arambulo, guidance and counseling; Ric Cordero, audit; Abdulfattah Mogawan and Dominic Malapitan, community outreach; Randy Reyes and Joehari Usman, secretariat.
Kapihan
A third feature of Friday night’s event at the Tropicana was Kapihan Sa Jeddah forum hosted by Kasapi and the Bileg Ilocano iti Saudi Arabia, or BISA.
The main topic was the hot issue on absentee voting, which is pending approval in the Philippine Congress.
According to the Kasapi press release, the panelists were “one in saying that the approval of the bill is still uncertain particularly in the lower house.”
The panelists were Manalo and Dr. Mohamad Ali Astillero of Riyadh OFW Congress; Avanceña and Isabelo Hugo of the OFW Congress - Eastern Region; Garcia, Cuares, Dianalan and Manese or Kasapi.
On Kasapi itself, Garcia “promised to make more improvements and better changes within the group to keep it more responsive to the needs and problems of OFWs.”
