Corporations continue giving aid

MANILA, Philippines - Corporations continue to extend aid to calamity-stricken areas in the Visayas.

The SM Group of companies vowed to raise P100 million for a calamity fund for Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and Bicol, which were ravaged by the strong earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Gladiz May Latiza of SM City Marilao said the calamity fund will be used to rebuild homes, community centers, schools and churches and for relief operations.

Latiza said Operation Tulong Express is now accepting relief goods and cash donations through its accounts in BDO and Chinabank.

The SM Foundation is taking the lead in relief efforts. It has sent out thousands of relief packages consisting of bottles of mineral water, rice, ready-to-eat food and instant noodles to affected communities in the Visayas.

The Robinsons Malls, on the other hand, will launch this week “The Christmas Tree of Hope” to raise more funds for typhoon victims.

“Several colorful trees will be displayed in Robinsons malls and our customers are invited to buy Christmas balls, proceeds of which will go to Serviam Foundation,” said Arlene Magtibay, Robinsons Land Corp.’s general manager for commercial centers division.

The Robinsons Malls’ “The Gift of Change” donation drive is in full swing in Leyte, Northern Cebu, Roxas and Iloilo. Thousands of relief bags containing canned goods, rice, water and hygiene kits have been dispatched and volunteers who will assist in distribution have been deployed.

For its part, Megaworld Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of leading property developer Megaworld Corp., turned over P1 million to ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya for relief efforts in typhoon-ravaged areas.

Globe encourages donations

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom, through its Bangon Pinoy (#BangonPinoy) program, has pledged P15 million to help community reconstruction activities of Gawad Kalinga (GK) in typhoon-devastated provinces and hold mobile caravans to encourage donations for disaster relief efforts.

The amount will be used primarily to build houses in GK Rotary Village in Barangay Tambulilid in Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of 100 families, while part of the funds will be set aside for livelihood support to the residents.

A significant portion of the P15 million will come from the sale profits of Globe’s Tattoo Prepaid Mobile WiFi from now until yearend and the 100 percent profit donation from the plans sold by Tattoo Home Broadband in November and December 2013.

About 5,000 units of various Tattoo Prepaid Mobile Wifi and stick devices will also be given to typhoon victims.

The telecom giant also rolls out its Globe Prepaid On the Go caravan to raise subscribers’ awareness on various ways to help typhoon victims.

Through the caravans, Globe subscribers may donate via any of five options.

With every peso loaded in the Globe Prepaid On the Go Caravan, Globe Prepaid will match it with the same amount of donation. Through SMS, text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899; the amount can be any of the following denominations: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000.

Subscribers may also donate their old phones to subscribers in affected areas.

For redemption of Globe Rewards points in 5, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 denominations, text DONATE<space>YOLANDA<amount> to 4438.

Another way is through GCash donation to Red Cross via Mobile GCash APP or by dialing *143#> GCash > Others > Donate > Amount > MPIN > Red Cross.

Aid from foreign firms

The Credit Suisse staff in the Asia Pacific region will also donate to GK and Habitat for Humanity Philippines, which the bank has been partnering with.

Both charities will be working to provide emergency relief to victims in the short term and on rebuilding efforts in affected communities in the long term.

The bank has pledged $400,000 for relief efforts and will support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in their operations.

Fuji Xerox Co., for its part, donated ¥10 million.

Canadian fertilizer giant Canpotex based in Saskatchewan will donate $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to assist in relief efforts in the Philippines, said president and chief executive officer Steve Dechka.

This donation validates the company’s focus on long-term relationships and commitment to its loyal Philippine customers and their affected families, he added.

As the world’s premier potash exporter, Canpotex has been a major supplier of potash to the Philippines for over 41 years. At this difficult time in the Philippines, Canpotex and its shareholders are sensitive to the needs of its Philippine customers and the role that they play in helping meet the growing global demand for food.

Airlines fly relief goods for free

Airlines have also helped in relief operations and medical missions.

Qatar Airways yesterday airlifted for free to the Clark International Airport (CIA) eight tons of relief goods from Filipino workers in Qatar.

Last week, Emirates Airlines transported for free to CIA 13 tons of relief items from Filipino workers in Dubai.

Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano said the relief goods include tents, medical items, food and blankets. These would be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to typhoon victims in  Tacloban and Ormoc.

Tiger Air Philippines and AirAsia Zest have offered free air transport of relief goods from donors in Pampanga to typhoon-ravaged areas in the Visayas.

Among the first relief goods to be airlifted by the airlines are those from the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Central Luzon Television Ch-36.

Also slated for airlifting are relief goods solicited by LGC Group, San Fernando Filipino-Chamber of Commerce, Mekeni Foods Corp., House of David Group, Romac Group of Companies, Patient Care Corp., Solana Land, Celtech, 3rd District Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, and People’s Lumber.

The Airbus Corporate Foundation has also coordinated flights of relief goods and rescue and medical teams to the country.

Airbus A340-300 flew 28 logistics and emergency rescue specialists and nearly 30 tons of water purification equipment and energy biscuits from Lyon in France to Cebu. This mission was jointly organized with one of the foundation’s French partners, the Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger).

The new A321 of Philippine Airlines (PAL), meanwhile, was used to send a medical team of 10 doctors and nurses and 11 tons of medical equipment and food to Manila from Germany. This flight was facilitated by PAL and two German partners of the Airbus Corporate Foundation, the Humedica e.V. and Kühne & Nagel.

“The Philippines has been struck by a true human disaster and it is natural that we look at all possibilities about how we can contribute in facilitating relief in this tragic situation quickly and efficiently,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO and chairman of the Airbus Corporate Foundation.

In a related development, the 100-strong contingent of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA)’s “Doctors on Boat” program sailed yesterday to Bantayan Island in Cebu.

They brought P50 million worth of medicine, medical and surgical supplies, water, food and other relief items.

The PMA introduced the program when Typhoon Ondoy hit the country in Sept. 2009. – With Dino Balabo, Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu and Sheila Crisostomo