28 January 2012 - The Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), a leading US-based charity focusing on global health care, donated US$ 2.2 million worth of medicines and medical supplies for victims of Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao.
In a report by the Philippine Consulate General in New York to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the CMMB donation includes, among other items, antibiotics, cough medicines, antihistamines, astringent, anti-malarial medicines, and water purifiers. The items were shipped to Silliman University in Dumaguete City through the Office of Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang.The free air freight of the donation was facilitated by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Commissioner Craig Croft, through Service By Air Logistics Company (SBA) based in Woodbury, New York.
At a ceremonial turnover on January 24 at the Queen of All Saints Rectory in Brooklyn, New York to mark the arrival of the donation in the Philippines, Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. expressed the Philippine Government's sincerest appreciation for this great humanitarian gesture of the CMMB represented by its CEO and President John Galbraith.
Also present at the event were Bishop Joseph Sullivan, Auxiliary Bishop of New York and CMMB Board Member, Deputy Consul General Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Filipino Community leaders.
Mr. Galbraith noted that while this is not the first time the CMMB has extended aid to victims of natural disasters in the Philippines, this donation is doubly significant because it is taking place during the CMMB's 100th anniversary.During another appreciation ceremony held at the headquarters of SBA on the same day, Consul General de Leon met with County Executive Mangano, Commissioner Croft, CMMB Sr. Vice President Adrian Kerrigan, and the SBA Management to personally convey his thanks for the concern and the assistance extended by the officials of Nassau County, CMMB, and SBA.
Consul General de Leon likewise acknowledged the efforts of Filipino-American Community members, Mr. Ramon Villongco (Overall Project Facilitator) and Mrs. Librada Carroll of the Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs, and Dean for Veterans Services and Service Learning Center Dr. Evangeline Manjares of the Nassau Community College in the realization of this donation.For his part, Mr. Villongco was gratified to see the overwhelming response of the Filipino-American and the international community in contributing to relief efforts.
Mr. Villongco, other Nassau County offices, volunteers and the Consulate are currently working on shipping a donation of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for the typhoon victims. The MREs are being supplied by the Nassau County OEM. END