Damayan gets more donations for flood victims

MANILA, Philippines - More donations poured in from people and private companies on the second day of the fund drive of Operation Damayan, The Philippine STAR’s humanitarian arm, for flood victims.

Yesterday, donations reached P818,000. Private companies Century Pacific and Mundipharma donated 50 cases of Century products (canned goods) and four cases of Betadine wound solution, respectively. Mundipharma also gave four cases of Betadine skin cleanser.

Other donors include Mr. Siy (3,000), Mr. Pogi (P50,000) and Frank Pe (assorted slippers and hand soap).

Philstar Daily Inc. also donated P150,000; Pilipino Star Ngayon Inc., P100,000; and Pilipino Star Printing Co., Inc., P150,000.

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.

Feeding program

Meanwhile, toddlers in a community which had not been reached by relief operations in the past days were treated to snacks yesterday afternoon.

Operation Damayan held a feeding program for children on Palanza Street in Barangay Doña Imelda in Quezon City.

One thousand packs of chicken snacks and bread were distributed to the children, who lined up after floods marooned their community this week.

Village chair Connie Malangen echoed the gratitude of many parents, who said that before yesterday, their children had not had a decent meal since the floods.

Operation Damayan chose the area since it was situated far from the village center and had not been reached by relief operations in the past days.

Palanan Street had been severely flooded with waters not receding for several days.

Also according to Malangen, the area has a high density of children.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte led yesterday’s feeding program.

Village council member Butch Ubaldo said 85 percent of their residents were affected by the floods.

“Most of our residents live near the river,” said village council member Roy Doronila.

About 95 percent of these families already returned to their houses as of yesterday, but many of them had already lost most of their belongings.

Also, some 25 families have completely lost their homes to the floodwaters.