Canadians reach out to typhoon victims

Canadians reach out to typhoon victims

Gov’t Grants Priority Processing for Immigrants Affected Local Organizations Offer Aid

Canadians are reaching out at national and local levels to help the estimated half a million people impacted by the devastation caused in parts of the Philippines by Typhoon Ondoy and Tropical Storm Pepeng.

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration announced on October 1, 2009, that effective immediately, they are implementing special measures to facilitate the immigration of those who were impacted by the destruction on September 26, 2009. Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney notified, “This government is moving quickly to reunite Canadians and permanent residents with their families by extending a welcome to those who wish to come to Canada.”

The prioritization of Filipino immigrants impacted by the recent devastation applies to both new and existing applications. The visa office in Manila will expedite applications of affected Filipino residents falling under various immigration categories and who have close family members in Canada who can act as sponsors. Also, “Temporary residence applicants will be given priority processing by the visa office in Manila once they demonstrate that they have been significantly affected by the typhoon.”

Evidence used to demonstrate that one was significantly affected is said to vary on a case by case basis.
The Ministry states, “It remains the applicant or sponsor’s responsibility to demonstrate that they are significantly and adversely affected by the situation.” The applicants will need to meet any existing permanent resident and temporary resident application requirements.

The special immigration measures are in addition to the $5 million dollars made available by the government to provide humanitarian assistance and early recovery for people coping with the destruction and displacement. There was also a $50,000 contribution by the government to the Philippine National Red Cross to aid in the survival of some 3,500 families soon after Typhoon Ondoy hit.

Those who were spared from the instantaneous floods and ensuing mudslides escaped with only the clothes on their backs. Homes and crops were severely damaged or destroyed. Immediate relief efforts by relief groups included the provision of basic needs such as food, drinking water, temporary shelter, personal hygiene items, and medicines.

In the Philippines and elsewhere internationally, the Philippine government agencies have been criticized for their inept response in the wake of these particularly devastating, but regularly occurring tropical storms. A statement by Jonathan Canchela, Chairperson of Bayan Canada, an organization which helps link Canadians with the social ails of those ‘back home’ had this to say, “What is more tragic is the inability on the part of the different Philippine government agencies to efficiently respond to this type of calamity, especially in doing the search and rescue operations. Many could have been easily saved from raging flood and rooftops if rescue teams have enough equipment like rubber boats.” Others working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have expressed their distrust over contributing to any relief efforts under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government, citing rampant corruption and misallocation of funds.

Separate from any political concerns, community members continue to show a heartfelt desire to help in any way they can. In the greater Toronto area (GTA), those who were no doubt thinking globally, were also acting locally, and responded with generous donations to charity events and drives. Several organizations throughout the GTA have held fundraisers and collection drives where proceeds will support the overwhelming needs of the hundreds of thousands impacted by the storms.

At the Bloor East Village Health Centre and elsewhere throughout the GTA, the Canadian Aid & Relief Project (CARP) was accepting donations of non-perishable food and clothing. These and monetary donations will be sent to aid work done in the organization’s local Philippine centers. The Toronto-based organization was founded and headed by the family physician, Dr. Francisco Portugal, alongside dentist, Dr. Jorge Jose, as a way for them to use their expertise and connections to reach out to underprivileged Filipinos. CARP extends “medical and relief aid to disaster prone and impoverished communities in the Philippines.”

CARP promptly released $10,000 from past fundraising efforts for immediate relief operations. Vaccines from Canada, which prevent against water-borne diseases, such as cholera and typhoid, were to be shipped immediately to the health centre in Antipolo City. Many other urgent medical needs are being addressed by CARP staff on the ground. CARP employs locally based volunteer doctors and dentists who are based in the Philippines.

On the evening of Saturday October 7, 2009, Filipino youth gathered in at least two events to support victims of the natural disasters. In the west end, the M Studio held a fundraising event organized by Minerva Records. Local artists and musicians were “on hand to lend their talents [to] try to raise awareness and funds to help our fellow Filipinos recover and rebuild.” Clothing and non-perishable food items were also being accepted to be shipped in balikbayan boxes for the Philippine Red Cross.
Downtown, Kapisanan members adapted an already planned poetry event in their Kensington Market centre to benefit typhoon victims. Proceeds went to the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre.

Organizers of the Bayan Canada dinner and dance fundraiser, which was initially organized to raise funds to support programs for Filipino workers, such as labour rights education, legal defense, skills training and community outreach, also quickly amended their endeavors in order to donate parts of the proceeds of the evening. Further efforts by member organizations of Bayan Canada have responded by collecting financial support for relief efforts in the Philippines. The Bayan Canada website explains their chosen course of action, “In the face of government inaction and corruption BAYAN Canada along with Migrante Canada, the Philippine Solidarity Network-Canada and other grass-roots organizations are organizing to get the money and goods directly to the victims.”

Migrante International has called for the “bayanihan” (cooperation and unity) spirit of all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Administered by the Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP), operation “Sagip-Migrante” (migrant rescue) is helping to “facilitate the smooth remittance of the relief funds and goods to the right people.” The Bayan Canada website also invites people to connect with church efforts in the Philippines, through the National Council of Churches of the Philippines, “who have been consistent in ensuring that help gets to those who need it the most.”

Rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts for the nearly half a million Filipinos impacted by floods and mudslides must be ceaselessly addressed in the future if those affected are to be given chances to restore their lives. A concert uniting many local Filipino-Canadian organizations in support of such efforts is in the works.