The Philippines Needs You; Call For Support Operation Walang Iwanan NCR Monsoon Flooding
August 8, 2012 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Business News, Featured, International News, News, Weather, World News
San Diego, CA, August 7, 2012 – Gawad Kalinga USA sends out a call for support for the thousands of families affected by floods in many parts of Metro Manila which is continuously being hit by torrential rains for more than a week now. Although not directly hit by Typhoon Gener (international name: “Saola”), monsoon rains had worsened the past week causing floods in many areas.
In the last 24 hours, rains continued to pour causing dams to overflow and forced thousands of families to flee their homes. In some parts of Metro Manila, floodwaters have reached the second floor of buildings. As of today, the death toll had reached 51.
According to PAGASA, 222.6 meters of rains has been poured in the last 9 hours, which is now close to the record set by Typhoon Ondoy (international name: “Ketsana”) in 2009 which killed at least 747 people and created about $1 billion in damages.
On August 7, 2012 BusinessWeek.com reported that: “Three people drowned in Bulacan, north of Manila, Superintendent Noli Pacheco said yesterday. In Batangas, south of the capital, two children drowned while trying to cross a swollen river, provincial police spokeswoman Aleli Buaquen said. A landslide in Quezon City killed nine people, the government’s disaster risk reduction agency said, and a body was found along the Bued river in Pangasinan, north of Manila, according to a report from the regional police office.
Rain intensified as night fell, with the weather bureau recording 30 millimeters to 40 millimeters per hour in some parts of metro Manila.
Floodwaters submerged Barangay Tumana in Marikina and some of the town’s 25,000 residents were stranded on rooftops, Marikina Congressman Miro Quimbo said by phone. Landslides may threaten districts north of Manila, including Antipolo City in Rizal, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje told ABS-CBN.
The rain will subside in the capital and nearby provinces today as Typhoon Haikui nears China, state weather forecaster Bernie de Leon said on dzMM radio.
Manila and Pampanga province were also rattled by an earthquake as a magnitude-5.3 temblor struck Occidental Mindoro province at 1:03 p.m., the local volcanology institute said. In metro Manila, almost 130,000 people fled their homes, said Susana Cruz, a member of the civil defense office.”
GK Philippines is now setting up immediate relief operations in Quezon City and Antipolo, with an initial need for thousands of food packs and clothing. You can make donations through http://www.human-flag.com/gkusa-flood-relief/.
You may also send checks to your local GK USA Area Coordinators or to GK USA HQ at 13860 Stowe Drive, Poway CA 92064 (indicate flood relief on the memo section).
Inquiries on individual and corporate support for this recent calamity in the Philippines may be forwarded to Howie Clavite, Development and Community Relations Manager at howie@gk-usa.org.
In response to support and help the Monsoon Flooding victims Mr. Tony Olaes from Gawad Kalinga sent the following email to:
Reallocati
on of Event Donation for GK homes to Disaster Relief Appeal Dear fellow honorees and friends:
In light of another calamity that recently hit the Philippines, GK USA activated an appeal to the Filipino American communities in the United Sates to support the disaster relief efforts currently being organized by Gawad Kalinga for Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.
Although Typhoon Gener (international name: Saola) did not hit the Philippines directly, it brought monsoon rains that had worsened in the past week causing floods in many areas. For several days, rain continued to pour causing dams to overflow and forced thousands of families to flee their homes. According to the DSWD, 181,181 families are affected in 32 provinces in the country. The total death toll is now at 51.I would like to request concurrence from the 99 honorees to reallocate $10,000 of the $25,000 funds that you’ve raised for Gawad Kalinga homes through the “100 Outstanding Filipinos” event. The remaining $15,000 will be used to build homes as promised.For expediency, I would like to base final decision on the majority of responses received.Kindly send your answer as a yes or no within the next 24 hours.Salamat po and walang iwanan!Tony OlaesChairman and CEO
About Gawad Kalinga: (GK), which means to “give care” in Filipino, is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement. In the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga is building empowered communities by people with faith and patriotism; driven by a culture of caring and sharing, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity. Its mission is to end poverty for 5 million families by 2024.[1]. For more info visit http://gk1world.com/
Logo graphic credit to: GK USA
Sources: GK USA, BusinessWeek.com
Photos credit to: Jay Directo/AFP/GettyImages for Business Week
Editor’s Note: Make sure during needed times the you can help but be cautions. Do not give any cash donations and make sure you make the donations with credible charity organizations.
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