STAR fund drive kicks off

MANILA, Philippines - Donations to The Philippine STAR’s fund drive for flood victims has reached P365,000, a day after the paper’s philanthropic arm, Operation Damayan, launched the appeal.

Private companies TGFHA-LV and Phintec Star Construction, Inc. donated P50,000 each.

STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte made a cash donation of P100,000.

Two anonymous donors gave P100,000 and P50,000 each.

Ernesto Nieves Santos donated P10,000 and Jem Lim gave P5,000.

Yesterday, Operation Damayan distributed 1,500 pieces of plastic mat to two flood-affected barangays in Quezon City – Silangan and Gulod. The evacuees are staying in the barangay hall’s covered court and at the Rosa Susano elementary school.

The STAR continues to accept donations in cash and in kind. Cash donations may be deposited to Operation Damayan, MBTC Port Area Branch Account No. 151-304-161622-9.

Or you may call The STAR hotline 527-7901 local 148 or direct line 301-9598 and look for Emie Cruz.

For Bankard cardholders, you may also donate by calling the Bankard hotline 888-1-888.

Since Sunday, monsoon rains continuously battered the city, killing at least 16 people and displacing more than 800,000 people living in low-lying areas.