PDRF leads Yolanda rebuilding efforts

MANILA, Philippines - Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) Secretary Panfilo Lacson met recently with Washington SyCip, founder of the accounting firm SGV, Butch Meily, president of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) and OPARR Undersecretary Dan Antonio to discuss projects to rehabilitate Yolanda-affected areas.

Among the projects which were approved were the replacement of a hanging bridge in Madalag, Aklan; the repair of damaged schools in Javier, Leyte, Pan-ay in Capiz and the towns of Culasi, Sebaste, Pandan and Barbaza in Antique, along with the construction of transitional housing in Libacao, Aklan.

The funds will come from overseas private NGOs, mainly the Embrace the World movement founded by Indian spiritual leader Amma.

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA), the largest organization of Filipino Americans in the US, recently endorsed the PDRF as its official disaster response partner at its convention in San Diego.

The NAFFAA Region V, which covers Colorado and neighboring states, showed their support for PDRF by making a contribution of $25,000 toward rebuilding the San Salvacion Elementary School in Ormoc, Leyte.

Officers of the NAFFAA including Boy and Flor Obana, Donna and Jay LaVigne, Giselle and John Rushford, Gloria Williams and Erlinda Santos met with PDRF president Butch Meily during the convention in San Diego.

Ms. Rushford was appointed executive director of NAFFAA by newly elected national chairman J.T. Mallonga.

Also present at the convention was Fil-Am leader Loida Nicolas Lewis.