#BangonCebu pools P1.4M funds for typhoon-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines - A total of P1.4 million donations in cash and in kind were generated during the benefit concert entitled “#BangonCebu We Will Rise Again Part III” held last November 15 which will be then distributed to the typhoon victims in Northern Cebu.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) disaster coordinating committee head Regan Rex King announced during the press briefing with the Tacloban business community last week that the chamber decided to celebrate their 110th anniversary through a fund-raising event to give way to the relief efforts for the affected families whose lives and properties were devastated by the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda.

“The entire amount and items received during the benefit concert are for immediate distribution to Northern Cebu,” CCCI also said in a recent statement released to the media. 

The CCCI Centennial+10 anniversary celebration night was agreed by chamber members to be postponed at a later date.

#BangonCebu, in which CCCI was the lead convener, is part of the #Bangon SugBohol Movement with specific initiatives for the victims in storm-hit areas in the northern part of Cebu.

The movement that was initially formed to help the earthquake victims has agreed to focus more on providing assistance to the northern Cebu as their top priority.

Key business organizations in Cebu, civic groups, non-government organizations and other institutions gathered to be part of the #Bangon SugBohol Movement that aims to pool resources to raise funds and life-giving supplies for the affected families in Central Visayas after a 7.2-magnitude quake jolted the region last month.

It was the Islands Group headed by its president, Jay Aldeguer, that started the advocacy campaign entitled “#Bangon SugBohol.”

As November 4, the civic movement has raised a total of P2,125,606.10 from cash donations that were contributed by individual donors, private companies and the two benefit concerts they conducted in SM City Cebu and Ayala Center Cebu.

The “#BangonCebu We Will Rise Again Part III” benefit concert that was held at the Ayala Terraces gathered artists, bands and personalities in the music industry who are mostly Cebuanos to participate in the cause. It was directed by Rudy Aviles and hosted by Jude Bacalso.

Among the Cebuano and non-Cebuano artists, talents and bands who performed during the concert include Ana Fegi, show violinist Juleous, Josh Eballe, Cebu Technological University voice theatre, Franee Way Band, Bethany, Ylaya's Strings, Cebu Normal University chorale, Yang Angel Tan's Band, University of the Visayas Folkloric dance troupe, Cebu Normal University folkloric dance troupe, University of Cebu — Banilad dance troupe, the Amparito Llamas Lhuillier Educational Foundation (ALLEF) scholars, University of San Carlos dance troupe, University of Southern Philippines Foundation dance troupe, and Manila-based percussionist Paul Zialcita.

King also raised the chamber’s suggestion to the provincial government to put up a command call center that would gather the particular needs of the affected families of the typhoon.

“This could help speed up the recovery of Cebu and create a better impact since we would know who are the families who have not received help yet,” he said.

CCCI also offered help to the government to transport relief goods from individual and group donors to the northern part of Cebu.

Meanwhile, the school gym of the Sacred Heart School — Ateneo de Cebu along General Maxilom Avenue is now utilized to be a warehouse and packing area of relief goods that started to arrive from other countries since last Friday.

This followed after the provincial government collaborated with CCCI to help ensure the effective and efficient management of the flow of relief goods from the international aid and proper information to the typhoon victims.

The Russian government, particularly from the State Reserves of the Russian Federation through the efforts of Consul Armi Garcia, donated 1,650 boxes of canned beef meat, 804 boxes of canned tuna and 284 sacks of sugar.

Daphne Degoma of the Living Word Christian Church also sent 20 boxes of canned beef meat, 20 boxes of canned tuna and 24 sacks of sugar to Tacloban City.

Over 20, 000 food packs have been prepared by volunteers from various companies and organizations as of this writing, 1,225 goods of which have been distributed in Sogod, Medellin and Malapascua Island.

Over 20,000 food packs have been packed by volunteers from different companies and organizations. 1,225 goods have been distributed in the towns of Sogod, Medellin and Malapascua.

Last Sunday, about 16,080 goods have been released and are ready for distribution to San Francisco, Tudela and Poro in Camotes, Daanbantayan, Tabogon and San Remigio. /JMD (FREEMAN)