SM Cagayan de Oro provides shelter to ‘Pablo’ victims

MANILA, Philippines - While much of the devastation of typhoon “Pablo” was most certainly felt in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Surigao, Cagayan de Oro City residents also experienced its fury.

Two years after the destruction brought by typhoon “Sendong,” residents again experienced flooding so much so that they had to seek shelter in higher areas.

Just as it had reached out to the community then, SM City Cagayan de Oro gave assistance by providing shelter for 1,221 families or 4,838 people at the height of the typhoon.  This was 13 percent of the total number of evacuees in the area, who were housed for two days.

The mall provided shelter at the fourth level and Door 5 of its carpark building, with comfort rooms, light and electricity, hot water and drinking water, as well as chairs and benches where they could rest.  Those with vehicles were also allowed to park their cars in the area.

The Philippine Red Cross and the city’s social welfare and development office assisted by providing volunteers to help the evacuees who had come from the barangays of Carmen, Kauswagan, Bonbon, and Balulang.

In line with this, the Barangay Balulang council issued a resolution commending SM for its “merciful gesture of providing shelter at the mall.”

While the evacuees were already sent home, the mall’s collaboration with the community continues in providing assistance for the typhoon victims through its “Tulong Express.”

Meanwhile, the 200 homes donated by SM Prime and 100 homes donated by BDO Foundation in partnership with Gawad Kalinga for Sendong victims are nearing completion.