The recent disaster that struck the nation proved that Filipinos always pull through and come together to lend a helping hand. In addition to the help the government extended to those affected by the Taal eruption, the following private entities used their resources to reach and provide relief to those who needed it.
‘Portalets’ and tents
Melco Resorts (Philippines) Foundation Corporation, in coordination with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, turned over P20 million worth of sanitation facilities and relief goods for the evacuation centers through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The donation from the charitable arm of City of Dreams Manila developer Melco Resorts and Entertainment Corporation included 163 portable toilets and 8×16-feet tents, heeding the appeal of the Department of Health and the Department of National Defense of the need to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene in evacuation centers. Sleeping mats, mosquito nets, first aid and hygiene kits, baby diapers, flashlights, batteries, among other items also comprised the donation.
Toys for the kids
In addition to over 23,000 kalinga relief packs and more than 2,500 six-liter bottled water donated to evacuation centers in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna, The SM Group went beyond its relief efforts by bringing smiles to the children.
In partnership with Toy Kingdom, SM gave out SM Bears of Joy and other kids’ toys to children in the evacuations centers in Batangas to make them a little happier.
Social media star Cheridel Alejandrino, more popularly known as #SMElevatorGirl, also visited evacuation sites in Batangas to entertain the evacuees and to help with SM Oplan Tulong Express medical mission and relief packs distribution.
In addition, SM’s Oplan Tulong Express medical mission deployed mobile clinics at the Canossa Academy and Vicente Lojo Memorial School in Banay-banay, both in Lipa City; Mataas na Kahoy National High School; and Bauan Technical High School. Nearly 1,500 patients were seen and given immediate medical assistance.
Care items
Employees from Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc.’s Cebu principal and Manila corporate offices as well as Metro store personnel banded together to collect donations, relief packs, and distribute Oplan Sagip kits for evacuees from Taal, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Agoncillo communities in Batangas.
Each kit contains personal care items, slippers, blankets, and other necessities. The Oplan Sagip kits were given to families staying in Maghinao Elementary School in Bauan, Batangas.
Cooking stations
To help evacuees enjoy freshly cooked meals, Solane set up cooking stations in various evacuation centers. Food, cooking equipment, and Solane LPG were provided to evacuees.
At the Batangas Sports Complex, a team of Solane volunteers put up a cooking station to offer noodles and coffee to at least 3,000 evacuees. At the Batangas Provincial Capitol, where more than 700 evacuees stayed, the Batangas Divers Association partnered with Solane to provide LPGs for their cooking station. Meanwhile, in Barangay San Jose, Batangas, Solane donated five sets of stove and LPGs to at least 900 evacuees.