Vicsal and int’l NGOs help Yolanda survivors rebuild

CEBU, Philippines - VICSAL Foundation has collaborated with international NGOs,  Habitat for Humanity and Junior Chamber International (JCI),  to help those who survived super typhoon Yolanda  rebuild from the devastation and move on.

This developed after it mobilized the 15 stores of the Metro Retail Group to receive donations from customers and active citizens under the “Bangon Visayas! Tabang Igsuon” banner, setting up receiving booths at their entrances and placing specially marked coin banks in some counters.

The initiative expanded to all companies under Vicsal Development Corp. whose employees and their business suppliers and friends have been urged to support the drive as their way to help the survivors.

Donations are being coursed through the Philippine National Red Cross in Cebu and Manila for subsequent distribution to the survivors of the typhoon that the global meteorological community has described as the worst cyclone that has crossed over land with dense communities.

Other than serving as conduit for donations, Vicsal Foundation provided Habitat for Humanity resources for the installation of tents donated from the United Kingdom for 832 families in Hilotongan Island that the foundation adopted.

It is also evaluating areas in Northern Cebu most in need for assistance in rebuilding their homes by providing them with house repair kits, each with a hammer, some nails, tie-wire and a hand saw, all placed in a pail.

As Habitat partner, Vicsal will give out and facilitate the distribution of these house repair kits to the typhoon victims in Bogo City and Municipality of Tabuelan in Cebu.

As these developed, the foundation also collaborated with JCI in sorting out and repacking used clothing distributed also in Bogo City.

Serving as receiving centers for donations in Cebu are Metro Colon, Super Metro Mandaue, Metro Ayala Center Cebu, Metro Naga, Metro Plaza Toledo and Super Metro Lapu-Lapu; along with Metro Hi-Per Maasin in Southern Leyte and Super Metro Talisay City in Negros Occidental.

Also receiving donations at the NCR are Metro Market! Market! at the Fort in Taguig City, Metro Alabang and Metro Binondo; and elsewhere in Luzon — Metro Legazpi, Metro Lucena, Metro Marquee, Metro Imus, and Metro Newport City Plaza 66. (FREEMAN)