Funding for PH cultural center in British Columbia in Canada's proposed 2024 budget | TFC News
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00:00.0
So, panamakan, so phase 2 for the 3D engagement cards.
00:05.2
And so, what that means...
00:06.8
The seniors were in a celebratory mood after the federal government
00:10.4
included the Filipino Cultural Center project in B.C.
00:13.6
in the country's 2024 budget, a first in the history of Filipinos in Canada.
00:18.9
And when federal lawmaker Don Davis arrived,
00:22.1
he was warmly welcomed by the members of Mabuhay House Society
00:25.4
and the Filipino Seniors Club of B.C.
00:27.7
Davis, who represents Vancouver Kingsway,
00:31.1
arriving where many Filipinos reside,
00:33.3
was the one who pushed for disinclusion in the proposed budget.
00:37.0
Davis says he has been asking the Finance Ministry for federal funding
00:40.8
for a Filipino Cultural Center this past 15 years.
00:44.5
But he adds it only came together when he recently became the finance critic
00:48.6
for the new Democratic Party.
00:50.7
I just made it really clear to this government
00:52.5
that the Filipino community in this, in the lower mainland of British Columbia
00:56.0
has been waiting a long time.
00:57.7
It's an extremely important initiative that I think is overdue.
01:06.4
Filipino-Canadian Liberal MP Ritchie Valdez also shared the news in her social media page.
01:12.5
Valdez, who is Canada's Minister of Small Business,
01:15.4
urged the community to present a formal proposal to the federal government
01:19.7
so funding can be allotted to the Filipino Cultural Center initiative.
01:24.0
What the community will need to do is, of course,
01:27.7
ensure that they're putting forward their proposal.
01:30.1
Funding will only come if there's a proposal that's put in place.
01:34.7
Davis agreed with Valdez and added that once the proposal is approved,
01:39.4
the Filipino Cultural Center project can be included
01:42.1
in the Green Initiatives and Community Building Fund.
01:45.5
Mabuhay House Society says this is a historic moment
01:48.5
that should be celebrated by the community.
01:51.6
It's a commitment. It's in writing.
01:54.7
And so we're happy with that.
01:56.1
And so right now, we just need to make,
01:57.6
Right now, we just want to really enjoy the moment of having the Filipino Cultural Center in the federal budget for the first time ever.
02:09.0
Filipino BC also expressed excitement and said it is happy for members of the community who will benefit from this cultural space.
02:18.0
The Philippines-Canada Trade Council is glad that Canada recognizes the contributions of Filipinos to its economy.
02:24.8
PCTC Membership Chair Anna Lu hopes the House of Commons will pass this proposed budget.
02:31.9
Nothing is carved in stone as of now, but we are very optimistic that it will turn in the favor of the Filipino community.
02:44.0
The budget, however, faces rough sailing in Parliament because the Conservatives and the Green Party have said they will oppose it.
02:50.8
Davis admits there's a chance that the support for the Filipino Cultural Center,
02:54.8
a project may be gone if the budget is not passed, but he vowed to work hard to make it happen.
03:00.9
We've waited long enough. The Filipinos and British Columbia have waited long enough, decades. It's time to make this happen.
03:07.9
Meanwhile, Rumbawa said that the BC government has also greenlit the project and is set to launch its survey of what Filipinos want to be included in the cultural center.
03:17.6
The project may take up to 10 years to complete.
03:21.4
Rowena Papasin, ABS-CBN News, Vancouver.
03:24.8
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