Filipino community organizations in the Eastern Province have formed 14 support groups across the region to provide assistance, disseminate information, and coordinate community activities for Filipinos in the face of current development in the region. “The formation of the support groups in the 14 areas in the region is part of the Filipino community contingency plan already in place,” said Mary Jane P. Tupas, President of the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress in Eastern Province (OFWC-EP), one of the community organizations leading the groups. Included within the loop of the 14 areas are 111 community organizations and associations made up of professional groups, Philippine-based regional organizations, sports clubs, schools, and socio-cultural bodies. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Eastern Province are probably the best prepared for tackling emergency situations because of their experience during the Gulf War and the subsequent security measures earlier positioned in the region. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, supported in the formation of the 14 support areas and has assigned its own POLO coordinators to work with coordinators in providing help and support programs for the Filipino community. Labor attaché David Des T. Dicang is closely coordinating with community leaders in the region and has led in the formation of the 14 areas. The POLO-Filipino community teams of coordinators are now established in Al-Khobar, Dhahran, Dammam, Dammam Industrial Areas, Sihat, Qatif, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Hofuf in Al-Ahsa, Abqaiq, Al-Khafji, Hafr Al-Batin, Tanajib and Nairiyah Dicang has assigned POLO officers Allen Jack Arroyo, Bajunaid Benjie Andi, Abdulgafhor Gary Bacaraman, Ricardo Yusuf Bautista, Saminodin Sam Manshawie and POLO support staff members to coordinate with the Filipino community organizations. The 14 areas and the Filipino community coordinators assigned in these areas are Mary Jane P. Tupas, Orlando Flores and Jaypee Vega for Al-Khobar; Dr. Gener Benter and Toto Gonzales for Dhahran; Dr. Allan Notarion, Danilo Paredes and Mario Concepcion for Dammam; Reggie Montana and Rick Tabuada for the Dammam Industrial Cities; Nilo Bejasa for Sihat; Romy Allado and Ven Macatuggal for Qatif; Jess Pascua and Jess Gabon for Hofuf and Al-Ahsa; Ediwn Vallarete for Abqaiq; Fernando Greg Crisosto and Ernesto Tatang Paguduan for Al-Khafji; Yusuf Magaspac for Hafr Al-Batin; Mario Rubello for Tanajib; Ronel Samson for Nairiyah; Jimmy King, Elmer Reyes, Jun Estruche and Edward Salon for Jubail; and Sammy Perez for Ras Tanura.
