Aid operations went into full swing two days after “Ondoy” devastated Metro Manila and other parts of the northern Philippines as various organizations started distributing relief goods to calamity victims.
By RAYMUND VILLANUEVA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Aid operations went into full swing two days after “Ondoy” devastated Metro Manila and other parts of the northern Philippines as various organizations started distributing relief goods to calamity victims.
Gabriela Women’s Party, the National Council of Churches of the Philippines, and ABS-CBN Foundation-Gawad Kapamilya distributed one thousand bags of rice, canned food, drinking water and other items to victims of Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City Monday afternoon.
Led by GWP representative Luzviminda Ilagan and ABS-CBN contract stars Angel Locsin and Candy Pangilinan, the relief mission focused on families who lost members during last Saturday’s deluge. About 20 Bagong Silangan residents died, mostly children.
Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana), a Gabriela member organization, coordinated the relief efforts, distributing numbered stubs to affected residents to facilitate the mission.
Meanwhile, the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) started receiving donations in their Quezon City headquarters Monday morning. Residents from the upscale Times Street neighbourhood as well as Center for Volunteerism in the Philippines (CERV-Philippines) volunteered to repack relief items into plastic bags for distribution on Tuesday.
CDRC Advocacy and Campaign officer Dakila Aquino said that they have already identified “priority areas” where they would be sending the relief goods that they have collected.
“As much as possible, we wanted to reach out to everyone but we have limited resources. We are in need of donations such as rice, dried fish, monggo beans, medicines, clothes and blankets,” Aquino said.
Kabataan Partylist also launched its relief drive, identifying four relief centers: its headquarters at #118-B Sct. Rallos in Quezon City, University of Student Council Office, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, College of Social Work and Community Development Sudent Council, UP Diliman and College of Arts and Sciences Student Council Office, UP Manila.
Even consumer advocacy group TXTPower has solicited donations for victims of Ondoy. As of 3:25 pm of Sept. 28, TXTPower received almost P600,000 monetary donations. All donations will be turned over to the Philippine National Red Cross.
Health advocacy groups formed the Samahang Oplan Sagip as a response to the disaster. It has been accepting donations in cash and in kind for the victims of the typhoon. Donations may be sent to the Council for Health and Development at #35 Examiner St. West Triangle, Quezon City with tel. nos. 929-81-09. Monetary donations may be deposited to the following accounts: Philippine National Bank Savings Account # 219-8303219 and Bank of Philippine Islands US $ account # 314 00 5391 with the swift code BPIPHMM. The group issues receipts when needed.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna has canceled its anniversary celebration this Wednesday to give way to relief operations in Marikina on Sep. 30 and Montalban, Rizal on Oct. 1. They accept donations at their office located 45 K-7th St., Brgy. Kamias, Quezon City.
According to various data gathered by the CDRC, the number of families affected by Ondoy increased to 89,116 families or 448,454 persons.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that 100 people died in the National Capital Region, CAR, and Region IV-A.
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Yearender: Victories of the Filipino People
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 am
[...] Philippines as various organizations started distributing relief goods to calamity victims. (Read story…) Filed Under Homepage Articles and Photos, News, [...]
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
wla ako masabi sa mga group na ito. mas mabilis silang magrespond sa pangangailangan ng tao na nasalanta ng bagyo kaysa sa mga government official. buti na lng nandito sila at nabuo ang mga grupong katulad nila.
ano ang mangyayari sa mga taong nasalanta kung wala sila? siguro mas marami pang namatay. Im very thankful dito sa mga various groups na ito at dun sa mga volunteers.
October 25th, 2009 at 5:37 am
ang bait naman ni ms. angel locsin, sobrang ganda pa niya.