BDO Unibank's remittance office in Barcelona, Spain has organized a donation
drive to the distressed victims of the Taal eruption by putting up drop-off boxes for Filipinos who want
to donate in kind.
These donation boxes will then be delivered to BDO's corporate social responsibility arm, BDO
Foundation, in the Philippines for distribution to the affected areas. Filipinos living in Barcelona are
mostly from Batangas and Cavite, areas that continue to bear the brunt of the volcanic eruption.
Officers and staff of BDO Remit Spain have also visited Filipino communities in Barcelona including
Filipino Asian stores, restaurants, medical providers, clinics, freight forwarders, travel agencies and
grocery stores to promote their donation campaign.
The St. Agustin Parish in Barcelona has likewise utilized the parish community to spread the word on
the said charitable efforts. They posted BDO Remit's materials about the donation drive within church
premises and regularly announced during the Sunday mass that drop-off donation boxes were put up.
"We have already filled up the first box of donations and is now on our 2nd box. More people are now
donating and sending as a result of our info drive," said Gerard Ian M. Belarmino, marketing officer in
BDO Remit Spain. "We are receiving positive responses from our Kabayans for our efforts especially the
waived fees for those who want to donate anonymously. Filipino community leaders are also grateful
to us for accepting coin donations to be remitted to the Philippines."
Local banks in Spain charge commissions for coin transactions. By remitting this through BDO instead,
every Euro cent would be sent to the Taal victims.
These coin donations have totaled 700 Euros to date.
Last January 14, BDO waived its remittance fees on cash donations sent through the different BDO Remit
offices abroad for the victims of the Mt. Taal eruption. This campaign runs up to March 31, 2020.
Cash donations sent through BDO Remit offices will then be coursed through different foundations
namely BDO Foundation, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc., GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.,
and Philippine Red Cross. In turn, these foundations will facilitate the purchase and distribution of relief
goods in evacuation centers that temporarily house the Taal victims.
BDO has extensive remittance coverage across the globe, with overseas remittance offices and partners
across Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Aside from the different BDO Remit offices, the Bank's global remit partners are also receiving cash
donations for the benefit of the Taal eruption victims, including Remitly, Small World, WorldRemit,
Azimo, UAE Exchange Centre, and Xpress Money. Regular remittance charges apply.