In the aftermath of what is regarded as the most devastating storm to visit the country, the local and international communities close ranks to bring help to residents of Leyte, Samar, Cebu and other areas that got the brunt of Yolanda’s wrath.
Everywhere, individuals and groups are sending and pledging their support – in cash, relief goods, medical missions, communication, and other critical services. Young people are most active in organizing volunteer brigades for fund raising and sorting, packaging and sending out relief goods. Private helicopter owners help drop needed supplies in hard-to-reach areas.
It has been observed that the outpouring of help is unprecedented in our long history of disasters.
Truly, an upside of calamity is that it brings out the best in people.
It also brings out the most generous in corporate social responsibility.
In the journey of rebuilding the country after the storm’s onslaught, many enterprises – big and small – are showing the way.
Korean electronics giant Samsung, for example, has deployed employee volunteer groups, consisting of engineers and technicians, to provide on-site assistance in the affected areas. It has also donated a million dollars cash through the Red Cross, ABS-CBN Foundation, and World Vision.
The SM group of companies announced it will put up a P100 million calamity fund for Tacloban, Ormos, Samar, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Bicol. The fund is expected to help rebuild homes, schools, churches and community centers, in addition to immediate relief operations.
Here are other ways companies are reaching out:
Libreng tawag
Telcos Smart, Sun and Globe have joined the mercy mission. They have agreed to provide 25 free SMS per day for five days to subscribers in Yolanda-ravaged areas. These may be used for both local and international text messages.
The joint offer is available from November 13 to 17 to subscribers in Tacloban City and the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Leyte, northern Cebu and Samar. The SMS bundle can be used to send messages across all networks.
Double your donation
Some companies, like Kraft Philippines and Rustan’s Corporation, accept donations from employees, customers, and the general public and pledge to match every peso of donation from their own resources.
Humanitarian flights
AirAsia Zest has been operating humanitarian flights to Cebu and Kalibo since November 9, carrying uniformed policemen, relief goods, and medical and rescue workers in coordination with various government agencies, local, and international aid organizations and NGOs.
Cebu Pacific also announced it is conducting mercy flights and distributing relief goods and assistance in the affected areas.
Dine for a cause
Food entrepreneurs, on the other hand, are demonstrating how smaller businesses can actively take part in the relief drive.
Several restaurants have launched “dine for a cause” programs, where sales proceeds for one or a few days – in whole or in part – are waived and earmarked to be sent to ravaged areas through various conduits like the Red Cross, VSO Bahaginan, ABS CBN, and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
For example, Sarsa Kitchen and Bar raised P135,000 from the proceeds of a whole day’s operation and support from the staff who voluntarily gave up a day’s salary.
Other restaurants that have joined the program include: Yabu, RUB Ribs and BBQ, Brgy Bagnet, The Burger Project, Pino Resto Bar, Pipino Vegetarian, Pi Breakfast and Pies, Truck Bun, Chili’s, Green Pastures, Cyma, Tokyo Tonteki, Cheesecakes by Guy, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Yummy Soy, Sweet Spot Café, 2nds, and Bizu Pattiserie and Bistro.
Organize a raffle
United Folding Bikers is selling raffle tickets at the cost of P100 each, revenues from which will go to institutions helping those in the afflicted places. Three bikes will be raffled off: a doppelganger, a Mars Kingdom and a Biceco folding bike.
At least two auto firms, a German marque and a Japanese brand, are already planning on canceling their Christmas parties and the rest of their November-December events to help raise funds for typhoon victims. An American brand distributor has mobilized its dealer network nationwide to request for relief goods for the typhoon victims. Executives of another German brand are now doing volunteer work for Red Cross.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC), which donated P1 million Monday afternoon to the Philippine National Red Cross, is planning to cancel some of its November and December events to focus on raising funds for the typhoon victims.
– See more at: http://motioncars.inquirer.net/18887/car-companies-take-emergency-detour-to-yolanda-victims#sthash.LLh1ykDU.dpuf
Cancel lavish parties
This early many companies are planning to scrap the big parties they traditionally hold every Christmas for their employees to rechannel the funds to the typhoon victims. Similarly, PR events scheduled for the next few months are put off or cancelled to give way to the higher priority of reaching out to afflicted countrymen.
At least two auto firms, a German marque and a Japanese brand, are already planning on canceling their Christmas parties and the rest of their November-December events to help raise funds for typhoon victims. An American brand distributor has mobilized its dealer network nationwide to request for relief goods for the typhoon victims. Executives of another German brand are now doing volunteer work for Red Cross.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC), which donated P1 million Monday afternoon to the Philippine National Red Cross, is planning to cancel some of its November and December events to focus on raising funds for the typhoon victims.
– See more at: http://motioncars.inquirer.net/18887/car-companies-take-emergency-detour-to-yolanda-victims#sthash.LLh1ykDU.dpuf
Photo: from iammeg.ph
Photo: Globe relief operations from www.hardwarezone.com.ph
