Filipino groups in Qatar launch fund drives

Filipinos in Qatar yesterday organised two events to help victims of floods in the wake of typhoon Maring that hit in the Philippines recently.

Heavy rains brought by the tropical typhoon affected three million people in capital Manila and nearby provinces, killed 27 and injured 30 while four are still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

A ‘Drive for A Cause’ fundraiser was organised by United Pinoy Motor and Motorcycle Group (UPMMG), a Filipino organisation comprising automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts.

The drive started from the Doha Exhibition Centre to Losail and Al Khor and back to Doha. “Every Filipino has the heart to help his compatriots during trying times.

We all feel for victims of calamities in our country,” said Rannie Tanchico of UPMMG.

Yesterday’s fundraiser was not the first time UPMMG and other Filipino groups organised such events to help typhoon victims in the Philippines which is frequently visited by storms every year.

“We started holding such events in 2009 after tropical storm Ondoy, in which we raised almost QR20,000.

It was followed by another ‘Drive for A Cause’ for typhoon Pablo victims last year,” Tanchico said, adding other nationalities had joined hands in previous events.

The group raised QR8,600 at yesterday’s event and proceeds will all go to Sagip Kapamilya, an emergency humanitarian assistance programme of Manila-based ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.

Read more: The Peninsula