Damayan distributes rice to calamity-hit families in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines —  Operation Damayan, The Philippine STAR’s humanitarian arm, distributed over 5,000 bags of rice to Quezon City residents affected by recent calamities, including floods caused by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

The STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte led Operation Damayan volunteers during the distribution of relief supplies held at Amoranto Stadium on Saturday.

Operation Damayan partnered with the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) for the initiative.

Mayor Joy Belmonte, who also joined the distribution, expressed gratitude to Operation Damayan and the FFCCCII for the initiative, which benefit residents from the city’s fourth district, including Tatalon, Damayan Lagi, Kalusugan, Kristong Hari and Roxas.

Five barangays in District 2 – Batasan Hills, Bagong Silangan, Payatas, Commonwealth and Holy Spirit – also received rice.

“Thank you, Philippine STAR and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce in Industry Inc., for donating rice to our QCitizens from our fourth district who were affected by recent calamities,” she said. “Your help will really help our residents.”

The Belmontes were joined by FFCCCII president Cecilio Pedro, as well as volunteers from The STAR and Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation, which is composed of 30 major Filipino-Chinese businesses and civic and cultural organizations.

The STAR launched a relief and rehabilitation drive in July following the devastation brought by Carina, which enhanced the southwest monsoon and caused widespread flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

It earlier conducted relief operations in Barangay Bagong Silangan, also in Quezon City, where over 1,000 residents received food packs and other essential goods.