Damayan’s Taal fund drive reaches P5 million

MANILA, Philippines — At The STAR offices in Port Area, Manila, relief goods including rice, food, blankets, hygiene kits, biscuits, water, toiletries now flood the lobby and corridors.

With more than P5 million in donations from a slew of individual and corporate donors, Operation Damayan is set to conduct one of its biggest relief operations on Tuesday – for Taal Volcano evacuees in Batangas.

Operation Damayan is the humanitarian arm of the Philstar Media Group and is headed by STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, who said that Tuesday’s outreach will benefit 5,000 families.

A second trip is being organized since the number of evacuees was growing by the day as Taal Volcano remained restive, and the fate of families living in its perimeter uncertain.

Yesterday, Hennan Group of Resorts vice president for marketing Karl Hendrik Chusuey, representing his father and group chairman Henry Chusuey, turned over a donation for P500,000 to Operation Damayan.

“We hope that this donation will significantly support your endeavors in helping the Filipino people,” Hennan’s statement said.

For her part, reader Marigold Chiyuto-Fernandez had been following the developments from abroad and decided to donate her share, depositing P5,000 in Damayan’s account.

Philippine STAR employees unload sacks of rice to be donated to victims of Taal Volcano, at The STAR office in Port Area, Manila yesterday.

FERNAN NEBRES

“I read your article and was really touched how people in Taal, Batangas and nearby places were affected by the volcano eruption since last week. Please accept my donation as my help to my fellow countrymen. Please continue your good work towards mankind,” she said.

Also sending in much-needed assistance were: Mr. & Mrs. Rene Henson, P50,000; Canadian American School, P20,000; Anonymous, P60,000; Rural Bank of Baco (Or. Mindoro) Inc., P20,000; R.L. and T.L., P10,000; Gaby and Hans Orbon, P10,000;  Gary Sancio, P10,000;  Avelina Tan, P5,000; and Marichu Villanueva, who donated three boxes of snack items.

Donations may be deposited to Philstar Daily Inc./Operation Damayan Metrobank Savings Account No. 151-7-15152422-9, and deposit slips emailed to [email protected].  Interested donors may also contact 8527-7902 to 15 local 194.