MANILA, Philippines - Recent typhoon Maring, combined with the southwest monsoon, resulted in heavy rainfall and widespread flooding in 663 areas under 92 municipalities and cities all over the country. Five provinces, eight cities and nine municipalities were declared under a state of calamity, according to data from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP) organized relief operations in some areas worst hit by the tropical storm.
Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) provided hot meals for 100 residents who were evacuated to the multipurpose hall of Barangay 833 in Pandacan, Manila. Residents of nearby Barangays 830 and 834 who were affected by flooding also received food items, in addition to insect sprays and repellents donated to the barangay for clean-up operations.
In Subic, Zambales, Shell Philippines Exploration BV with the Malampaya Joint Venture Partners coordinated with Mayor Jay Khonghun and local women’s civic group Subikena in providing relief assistance to 1,000 families living in the coastal community of Barangay Matain. Another batch of relief goods was handed over to Governor Jun Ebdane for other affected Zambales residents.
Shell supply and distribution staff and contractors also distributed bags of relief goods to close to 200 families in Sucat, Parañaque and to more than 300 families in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa. Shell conducted relief efforts in Bacoor, Cavite as well, in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development where at least 2,000 families received valuable food items packed in Shell FuelSave eco-bags provided by the Shell Retail team.
“While Shell’s focus is on rehabilitation efforts such as building homes through Gawad Kalinga and providing livelihood training as a way of helping thousands of affected communities and families cope with the natural calamities that batter our country each year, we also provide assistance by way of relief operations to alleviate the immediate difficulties experienced by our countrymen,†said SciP country chairman Edgar Chua.