Charity walk aims to reach Philippines storm survivors

Dubai: An energising walk for you and a contribution of Dh50 can translate into a fresh start for a person displaced by Typhoon Washi in the southern Philippines. So, pull on your walking shoes and head to Safa Park this Friday for the ‘Hakbang Buhay' (Walk for Life) charity event.

"Our only goal for this Friday's walk is to raise very badly needed funds for the Philippine Red Cross to be used to help the flood victims in the Philippines," Lucille Ong, president of the UAE-based Philippine Business Council (PBC) organising the event, told Gulf News.

More than 1,000 people have died, 4,000 are battling serious injuries, and almost a hundred are still missing in the wake of Typhoon Washi.

Damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and school buildings has been estimated at over 1 trillion pesos (Dh84 billion).

Filipinos and other nationalities are welcome to take part in the charity walk, which is scheduled to start at 7am and end at 11am on Friday.

Relief goods

Registration booths will be set up at Gate 4 of Safa Park. The charity walk is being held with the support of the UAE Red Crescent, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, and the Consulate General of the Philippines.

The PBC had initiated a similar charity event in 2009 in the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana that had drawn strong support from all segments of the UAE community. "During the walk alone, we were able to raise Dh250,000. In total, we were able to get Dh525,000 including corporate donations that came later. All the money was sent to the Red Crescent," Ong recalled.

The Filipino Community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (Filcom-DNE), an umbrella organisation of 99 Filipino social groups, collected 23 jumbo containers of relief goods last weekend.

Advisory modified

Filcom-DNE said it is now accepting donations of used clothing based on a Philippine Consulate General (PCG) advisory stating that such items are acceptable "as long as they are consigned through the Department of Social Welfare and Development".

The PCG had issued an advisory prohibiting such donations under Republic Act 4563.