Open Letter to the Philippine Community Council – NSW

Attn: Ms Elsa Collado

Dear Madam President:

I am writing on behalf of the Tagalog Association of Australia (TAA), a member of Philippine Community Council of NSW Inc (PCC).

It has come to our attention that PCC was able to raise donations both out of its own initiative and through the goodwill of individuals and groups. These donations, as we understand, are identified to be distributed to the victims of calamities and destructions caused by natural disasters.

It has further come to our knowledge that until now, after the disasters such as the Bohol earthquake, Australian bushfires and most recently, Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, some of these funds are still in the account of the council and has not been distributed to the rightful recipients which could have assisted in alleviating their sufferings.

We have information from various individuals in the community that the reason for the inability of PCC to disburse the funds to the recipients, is largely a matter of governance. The Board, as confirmed by some PCC members, made a decision in one of its meeting, as to the allocation of funds. However, according to our information, some officers are trying to enforce decisions that are not in conjunction with the Board’s decision. We are forming a belief that there is an internal divide that results in effectively crippling the council into moving forward. If indeed this is true, then our organization, as a member of the council, would have much to be concerned about.

The officers of PCC were elected by the membership in order to provide good governance particularly when it comes to donations, which is the main activity of the Council. We, the members and other individuals and groups of the Australian and Filipino communities, place our trust in the Council and expect the organization to fulfill its responsibility through good and effective governance with trust and to disburse these funds accordingly and in time. PCC is breaching the trust of donors by failing to respond quickly to calls for assistance in the recent calamities.

As President of a group with 49 financial members, I raise my deep concern over the manner by which the Council, particularly the officers are unable to make a unified decision and act in the best interest of the community.

Yours sincerely,

Danny Peralta – President

Tagalog Association of Australia Incorporated

Updated: 2014-01-05 — 10:48:23