Damayan donations reach P9 M

MANILA, Philippines - In more than two decades of doing relief operations throughout the country whenever calamities strike, The Philippine STAR’s Operation Damayan has never seen death and devastation on the scale caused by Yolanda.

This is why after conducting relief efforts that benefited 7,000 families in three areas affected by the super typhoon, Operation Damayan continues to raise funds to sustain its assistance to communities that have been displaced by the calamity.

To date, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports that the death toll from typhoon Yolanda had climbed to 5,560, with 1,757 missing and 26,136 injured.

Yesterday, volunteers of Operation Damayan conducted a feeding program at the Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City where hundreds of evacuees from disaster-stricken areas are seeking temporary shelter. The feeding also benefited indigent patients at the center that are supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

However, with rehabilitation in Leyte and Samar calculated to take more than a year, Operation Damayan realizes that despite the outpouring of assistance from all over the world, efforts will have to be sustained to help disaster-stricken communities get back on their feet.

Recently, The STAR received new donations amounting to P1.022 million, raising the total funds for typhoon relief to P9 million.

Donations received over the past week include P300,000 from Dr. Ma. Victoria Belo; P300,000 from the Quezon City Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen Inc.; P210,000 from the Metrobank Pusan branch; P200,000 from Easy Bio Phils. Inc.; P6,100 from the Daesa High School Batch 1970; P6,000 from Reliva Yurong and Marie Rexbelle Yurong; and P5,000 from Mira Batoy Edgcombe and family.

Damayan also received donations in kind from Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club, which donated 18 boxes of kitchenware/ utensils and a box of used clothing; and E.J. Litton Foundation, which sent 18 boxes of brand-new kids shoes.

Donations for typhoon victims may be deposited to The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan c/o MBTC Aduana Branch Savings Account No. 151-7-15152422-9 (kindly confirm your deposit via 527-7901 local 152).

For inquiries or donations in kind, please call 336-9598, email [email protected], follow @philippinestar on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/ThePhilippineSTAR for updates.