PDRF, UNDP organize forum to help rebuild typhoon-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) yesterday organized a forum to support the recovery and rebuilding programs for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), PDRF said various private companies, non-government organizations, international aid agencies, and national government agencies agreed to step up efforts to rebuild the areas ravaged by the typhoon.

Present during the forum were Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Coca-Cola Philippines president and general manager Guillermo Aponte, and UNDP Crisis and Prevention Recovery Practice Coordinator Sanny Jegillos.

Other companies represented in the forum include Smart Communications, PLDT, Maynilad, Meralco, TV5, Coke Philippines, Phinma Group, Ayala Group, Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., Lamoiyan, DDB Group, and Energy Development Corp.

Businessman Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of the PDRF, told a press conference that the private sector would step up efforts to find solutions as the national government is drafting a plan to rebuild the provinces ravaged by the typhoon.

“We have to move now, there are some temporary solutions the private sector could do while we are waiting for a final plan,” Pangilinan stressed.

For its part, the UNDP said it is allocating $2.5 million to jumpstart recovery efforts.

Four recovery centers will be established by the UNDP in Tacloban, Leyte; Guiuan, Samar; Roxas, Capiz; and northern Cebu. There may also be smaller recovery units in Palawan.

Moreover, the United Nations has initiated a global effort to raise $310 million for the Philippines in the aftermath of the typhoon through mobile phones since it is a proven channel for international donations.

A CNN Money report revealed that a donation program via text campaign raised $25 million four days after Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 and another $150 million for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

During the forum, Jegillos discussed the early recovery activities being prioritized for the next three months such as debris clearing, food-for-work programs and putting up temporary shelters.

Singson, for his part, enumerated priority areas such as shelter, resettlement and livelihood, and sustainable programs to revive local market opportunities.

Jegillos and other speakers from the International Labor Organization and OxFam also shared lessons learned from the relief and recovery efforts mounted by the international community following the 2004 tsunami that struck Banda Aceh, Indonesia and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Help.PH launched

The PDRF has launched Help.PH, a global and multi-channel fund drive for the rebuilding of the communities affected by Yolanda through mobile phone load donations.

It is also reaching out to other private groups to promote closer coordination within the private sector and with government and international agencies.

Through Help.PH, mobile phone users from over 40 countries may directly donate by keying in +63-999-7-000-000 (12-digits) as the beneficiary mobile number and then sending their donation using the procedure of their specific mobile network operator. The maximum amount per day is $10 until Dec. 31.

For the Philippines, subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ’N Text may directly donate P5 to Help.PH by texting HELPPH to 5353. They may also donate in the amounts of P10, P25, P50, P100, P300, P500 and P1,000 by texting HELPPH<space><amount> to 5353.

Other channels include money transfer through Western Union, i-Remit and over the counter transactions in all 340 Landbank branches nationwide.

‘Brick by Brick’ online platform

The PDRF also holds a crowd funding campaign for Yolanda victims through an online donation platform called “Brick by Brick” via the website http://brickbybrick.pdrf.org/yolanda/. – With Pia Lee-Brago