12 November 2014 –The Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), the national umbrella organization of Filipino community councils in various states in Australia, held its 13th National Conference in New South Wales from October 24 to 26. The biennial conference was hosted by the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales (PCC-NSW).
FILCCA is composed of the Philippine Community Council of NSW (PCC-NSW), the Filipino Community Council of Victoria (FCCV), the Filipino Community Council of Queensland (FCCQ), the Filipino Community Council of ACT(FCCACT), the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia (FSCCSA) and the LuzViMin-Filipino Community Council of Tasmania. With the theme, “Facing the Future Together”, the conference focused on how the Filipino community in Australia can work together to achieve their goal of empowering the community and its various sectors, such as women, the youth, and the elderly, and how it can help communities in the Philippines rebuild one year after the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in Tacloban, Samar, Bohol, Cebu , Palawan, Panay Island, and other parts of the Visayas.
Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) Undersecretary Lesley Cordero presented an overview of the Philippine Government’s efforts after Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan and the status of the rehabilitation program in the affected areas. She emphasized that Filipino migrant communities abroad have a significant role in helping hasten the process of rebuilding the lives of the people in the typhoon-ravaged areas.
In her keynote speech, Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis noted the collective strength of the Filipinos which is a rich resource for further growth of the community in Australia as well as for partnership with the Philippine government in realizing sustainable growth for the country and the Filipino people. She emphasized the individual success stories that each Filipino delegate represented and how, as highly empowered migrants, they can contribute to local political life and in the continued effort of nation-building in the Philippines as overseas voters, as entrepreneurs, and as ambassadors promoting the interests of the Philippines in their adopted country of Australia.
Labor Attache Rodolfo Sabulao discussed how Filipinos working in Australia can maximise employment opportunities. He also discussed workers’ rights and the services that the Office of the Labor Attache provide to Filipino workers.
A team from the Consulate was at the Conference venue to disseminate information on Overseas Voting and to register eligible applicants. The team was composed of Voters Registration Machine (VRM) Operator Ma. Regina Queenie Perol and Alternate VRM Operator Jessie Llaneta. They also responded to queries from participants about the dual citizenship program and various consular services. END