P2 million donation jumpstarts STAR’s Cagayan fund drive

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine STAR’s humanitarian arm, Operation Damayan, answers Cagayanons’ calls for help as it provides much-needed and immediate relief to families overwhelmed by Typhoon Ulysses, thanks to a P2-million donation from the Angelo King Foundation.

Large swaths of the province comprising over 2,000 barangays suffered from flooding last Thursday at the height of the typhoon, which battered many parts of Luzon, including low-lying areas in Metro Manila. For now, affected families have no choice but to take temporary shelter in evacuation sites.

On the ground, STAR lensman Michael Varcas pointed to the difficulty of providing rescue and relief to many areas under water at this time due to inaccessibility to land transport, even as flooding has eased and is expected to subside further in the coming days.

Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao shared with Operation Damayan that many of their parishes have taken in evacuees whose homes and livelihood had been devastated by the unprecedented flooding.

“The damage caused by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses to life and property of our fellow Filipinos is nothing short of devastating,” Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte said.

Mobilizing Operation Damayan to help in times of calamity, he added: “All of us, whether in government or the private sector, should join hands to do whatever we can to help our countrymen in need.”

He also thanked kind-hearted donors for always lending a helping hand to those in need.

Operation Damayan remains open to cash donations as relief operations in evacuation sites in Cagayan Valley commence early next week.

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.