With the country facing the onslaught brought about by Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) – considered as the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year – GMA Network continues to deliver not only news and information, but much-needed public service as well, most especially to those who are in Visayas and Mindanao.
GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) proactively pre-positioned its teams and is now distributing relief packs in Leyte, Surigao, Bohol, and Cebu. Together with its long time service partner, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, GMAKF is able to deliver speedy aid to those who need it most.
The Philippine Army boosted fundraising efforts by donating P4 million to GMAKF last Dec. 17, a day after Typhoon Odette hit Visayas and Mindanao. The amount was taken from the subsistence allowance of army soldiers nationwide. The Philippine Navy, for its part, picked up GMAKF relief goods bound for Cebu and Bohol. The Philippine Coast Guard also picked up tons of GMAKF relief goods bound for Mindanao, specifically, Surigao.
GMAKF’s first wave of relief distributions in Leyte, Surigao, Bohol, and Cebu targets over 31,000 individuals. A second wave of relief operations for Dinagat Island and other devastated provinces is already in the works.
On air, news teams of both GMA News and GMA Regional TV are deployed in key locations even prior to Odette’s landfall. These included some of what would turn out to be the most devastated areas such as Liloan in Southern Leyte; Surigao City; Surigao del Norte; Misamis Oriental; Cagayan de Oro City; Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Bohol; Cebu City; Lapu-lapu City; Cebu Province; Tacloban City, Leyte; Bacolod City; and Negros Occidental. There are also teams present in Iloilo City; Iloilo province; Dolores in Eastern Samar; Allen in Northern Samar; Aklan; Albay; Masbate; Catanduanes; Camarines Norte; Camarines Sur; Sorsogon; General Santos; Calayan in Cagayan; and Davao City.
Led by the network’s flagship newscast 24 Oras together with Unang Hirit, Saksi, 24 Oras Weekend, and GMA News Bulletins, viewers continue to be provided with news reports and latest situations from various parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
On GTV, GMA Network is also in full force via Dobol B TV, GMA Regional TV News, Balitanghali, Dapat Alam Mo!, State of the Nation, and Balitanghali Weekend. These also include the simulcasts of 24 Oras, 24 Oras Weekend, and Saksi.
Playing an important role was GMA News’ resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz as he consistently gave warning and useful information about the typhoon, even before it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
With Odette hitting Visayas and Mindanao, GMA Regional TV continues to deliver local news that greatly matters to Kapuso in the regions. Amidst the power outage and signal loss, GMA RTV’s pool of reporters and news teams braved the typhoon to deliver news and updates in their areas.
Online, non-stop coverage and news alerts are being made available via GMA News Online and GMA News and Public Affairs social media platforms. Live and up-to-the-minute video reports on the typhoon and areas affected–including live streams of 24 Oras, 24 Oras Express, 24 Oras Weekend, 24 Oras News Alerts, and various government briefings–are being posted on GMA News and 24 Oras digital platforms allowing Filipinos worldwide to catch the most important updates on Odette.
Citizen journalists documented the wrath of Odette through YouScoop, GMA News and Public Affairs’ citizen engagement arm. Its original digital series GMA News Feed likewise is providing quick breaking updates with videos on social media. The Network’s disaster and emergency preparedness portal, IMReady, are posting updates as well as they happen.
GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Operation Bayanihan is also accepting cash donations via its payment channels posted on its official website and Facebook page for those who want to sponsor relief packs for the typhoon victims. Visit www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation/donate for more details.
