On November 15th 2013- Toronto Filipino progressive groups Anakbayan Toronto (AB-TO) Migrante Canada and Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP) met with Consul General Junever Mahilum West appealing to the Philippine government to get its act together when it comes to the relief efforts following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
The current Philippine government have failed to demonstrate the urgency needed to provide the basic necessities to the thousands affected by the Super typhoon. The lack of disaster response coordination coupled with widespread corruption is mainly to blame on the slow response of the state.
The group also handed a petition to Consul General Mahilum asking to abolish the Pork Barrel funds that is unlawfully in the discretion of corrupt Philippine legislators.
Later, Mahilum-West assured the group, “We will convey everything to Manila.”
“As much as you may be seeing us as very critical of policies,” Connie Sorio said, “we also want to work with you in terms of improving more services towards our countrymen,” she told Mahilum-West.
The Consul-General said, “We’re open. If you want to come, let us know. We’ll have dialogues. We’ll have this continuing dialogue.”
The group staged a candle light vigil to show solidarity with the families and victims of Typhoon Haiyan. The vigil lasted for an hour and was attended by other concerned Filipinos and organizations (FMWM-Filipino Migrant Workers Movement, IWworkers, Akdaan Writers group, GABRIELA-ONTARIO, Indigenous group Binnadang and BAYAN CANADA and students from a few universities.
Anakbayan Toronto 