Crowdfunding campaign for Bohol, Cebu, Zamboanga raises P9M so far

MANILA, Philippines - Crowdfunding campaign Brick by Brick is gathering support from companies and individuals who are pitching in to rebuild the earthquake-hit provinces of Bohol and Cebu and the conflict-stricken Zamboanga City.

Launched by the private sector-led Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), the rebuilding effort has so far received a total of P9 million in donations. This includes a P2-million donation from the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) through its Senior Vice President Butch Jimenez.

PLDT Smart Foundation and One Meralco Foundation have also pledged P1 million each while the First Pacific Group in Hong Kong will add $20,000. Metro Pacific Foundation ill give P1 million and Metro Pacific Tollways Group and Philex Foundation will each give P5000,000.

Maynilad Water Services has also pledged P5000,000 while PLDT Global is expected to raise $7,000.

Land Bank of the Philippines pledged P1 million to the effort while National Confederation of Cooperatives said it will encourage its 2.1 million members to donate to the cause.

Other donors include Loida Nicolas Lewis, former chief executive officer of TLC Beatrice International, who gave $5,000. U.S Education Finance Chief Executive Officer Henry Howard also pledged $5,000.

Donors can send money via PayPal, SmartMoney and PasaBayad at http://www.pdrf.org/brickbybrick.

PDRF started in 2009 in response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy. It is made up of various companies and non-government organizations.