This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. IV, No. 45, December 12-18, 2004 

Filipino-Canadians to Raise Funds for Flood Victims 

By Bulatlat 

TORONTO, Canada - The Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) has issued an urgent appeal here for immediate assistance to the victims of the recent typhoon and three tropical storms that hit the Philippines in recent weeks. 

Calling it an ecological crisis caused by nature and aggravated by the wanton destruction of the few remaining tropical forests in the Philippines. CASJ Fundraising Chairman Edwin Mercurio and its Executive Committee members endorsed a two-pronged action to mobilize its members and affiliate organizations to conduct an extensive fundraising campaign for the typhoon and flood victims and at the same time engage in an educational campaign to explain the effects of deforestation, soil erosion, the cause of floods and the importance of caring for the environment and safeguarding the health of the last few remaining forests in the archipelago. 

Latest global reports revealed that nearly 1,800 people are dead or missing in the provinces of Quezon and Rizal after a typhoon and three successive storms hit these provinces east and north of Manila in a span of two weeks unleashing mudslides and flashfloods. The hardest hit were the municipalities of Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar in Quezon; Dingalan and San Luis in Aurora. 

About 650,000 survivors are in dire need of food, clean water and tents. Health authorities fear an epidemic due to lack of adequate facilities and sanitation in temporary shelters. 

The Alliance is coursing its aid through the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP). The United Church of Canada (UCC) has offered to issue receipts for tax purposes to corporate donors, organizations and individuals who offer financial aid to the victims.  

CASJ will publish the names of all the donors in the Toronto-based Philippine Reporter and other publications. Bulatlat 

 © 2004 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.