177,801 in evacuation centers after ‘Pablo’

MANILA, Philippines – Some 177,801 Filipinos are living in evacuation centers in the wake of Typhoon “Pablo” (Bopha), said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday, December 9.

The NDRRMC said this number is equivalent to 37,220 families living in a total of 173 evacuation centers in 9 regions: Palawan, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga. 

More than half of these evacuees — or 131,746 Filipinos — are now in 57 evacuation centers in the Davao region. Around 69,849 people are cramped in 3 evacuation centers in Compostela Valley. 

The NDRRMC estimates that typhoon Pablo affected some 5.41 million Filipinos living in 2,317 barangays in Southern Philippines, killed over 500 and left at least 800 more missing.

Typhoon survivors appealed for help on Saturday, December 8 as people in hard-hit towns looted stores in search of food.

Help worldwide

The governments of Japan and the United States as well as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are extending aid to the victims of typhoon Pablo.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas told Rappler that the US government, through USAID, will increase its assistance to flood victims in Mindanao. He said they also intend to conduct search, rescue and recovery operations.

Thomas said the USAID will coordinate their efforts with the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command under Lt Gen Jorge Segovia.

“The United States Government will bring additional relief to flood victims in Mindanao. Our marines and USAID personnel arrived in Davao today,” Thomas said via Twitter on Sunday, December 9.

The government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on the other hand, also announced its emergency assistance of P22 million to typhoon Pablo victims.

This assistance will be in the form of relief items such as:

• tents
• canned goods
• sleeping pads
• plastic sheets

“In light of friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines and as both countries being disaster-prone nations, the government of Japan has made the decision to extend emergency assistance for humanitarian aid for those affected,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, over 500 relatives and families of OFWs will “pass the hat” for the typhoon victims at their own Christmas event organized by the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization that assists migrant workers. The event will be held on Wednesday, December 12 at the Ramon Magsaysay Hall of the Social Security System Building along East Avenue, Quezon City.

Do you want to make donations, too? Here’s a list of donation centers you may go to: 

DSWD

DSWD-National Resource Operations Center, Chapel Road, Pasay City. Tel. No: (02) 852-8081.

Gawad Kalinga

Volunteer or give in kind.

Urgently needed: Rice, noodles, canned goods and one-liter water bottles that will be repacked by volunteers.

Volunteers may proceed to the following GK Command Centers:

Butuan
Urios Gym, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte
Contact Butch Ozarraga at 0917-555-5204

Bukidnon
San Agustin Parish Convent, Valencia City, Bukidnon
Contact Richard Mercado at 0917-310-3098

Davao
Contact Dan Bercasio at 0917-888-8659/0923-140-7029

Donate cash via bank deposit:

• Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account # 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills
• Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account # 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills (Swift code: BOPIPHMM)

GMA Kapuso Foundation

Donations in kind are accepted at the GMA Kapuso Foundation repacking site: GMA Davao station, Bankerohan, Davao. Contact Person: Sheilana Ward of GMA Kapuso Foundation. Mobile No: 09088869005

For Metro Manila residents, you may go to GMA Kapuso Foundation, 2nd Floor, Kapuso Center, GMA 7, Edsa Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. Nos: (02)9284299/ (02)9289351. For more information on how to deposit cash donations visit their website. 

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya

Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse at #13 Examiner Street West Triangle, Quezon City (between Quezon Avenue and West Avenue). Hotline Nos: 394-9272, 411-4995, 0917-887-4411. Donations are accepted from 8 am to 8 pm, Mondays to Sundays. Visit their website for more information on how to deposit cash donations.

Philippine National Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross-National Headquarters in Manila accepts in-kind donations. They also do donation pick-ups. Visit their website for more information on how to deposit cash donations.

You may also donate via mobile phones:

SMS: Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)
G-Cash: Text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS to 2882

You can donate the following denominations:
Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000
Smart: 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000

TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc.

TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. is accepting cash donations via bank deposits.

– Rappler.com