P&G launches Project Hope for store owners hit by Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines – Three weeks after Typhoon Yolanda struck the Visayas region, the government is encouraging bank, stores, groceries and other businesses to reopen as soon as possible to help revive the local economy in the severely-afflicted towns. 

As citizens begin to pick up the pieces and restore normalcy in their lives, Procter & Gamble Philippines, through Project Hope, is committing to rebuild 5,000 sari-sari stores by helping them clean and fix damaged structures and replenish their stocks of P&G products. After these rebuilding efforts, P&G will organize trainings for the store owners on business improvement and crisis preparedness topics.

“We recognize the importance of encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit in this time of need, and we want to help by assisting the sari-sari store owners in the different localities affected by the recent typhoon. They have been our business partners and their revival is critical in stimulating the local economy and helps them get back on their feet,” says Sumeet Vohra, president and general manager of P&G Philippines.

P&G is a leading manufacturer of personal care and household products like Safeguard, Pampers, Tide, Ariel, Joy, Downy and Duracell. The company has provided over P67 million worth of products to aid the victims in the aftermath of Yolanda through its partners such as the Philippine Red Cross and World Vision. An initial cash donation of US$ 150,000 was also made by P&G USA to World Vision ($75,000) and the typhoon Yolanda relief fund of the American Red Cross ($75,000). The company also provided trucks to ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya in its distribution of relief goods in Tacloban City. 

Last November 16-17, the company mounted Aid Couture, a fund-raising activity which helped raise P500,000 for the Philippine Red Cross. Aid Couture helps convert pre-loved designer clothes to cash that the Red Cross can use to buy food and medicines to aid typhoon Yolanda victims.

Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) has claimed 5,632 lives, with 26,136 injured and 1,757 still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its December 1 report. The National Economic and Development Authority also announced that the typhoon’s massive destruction could slow down economic growth for the 4th quarter.

“P&G Philippines will do its share to help the Philippine government in the restoration of the areas stricken by Typhoon Yolanda. We want to encourage other companies and organizations to also help in the revival of business in these areas,” says Vohra. – Rappler.com