SOME of the country’s biggest companies continue to donate both in cash and in kind for relief operations in central Philippines, which was devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda.

The MVP Group of Companies, Toyota Motor Corp., Deutsche Bank and the SM Group have announced more assistance to the victims of Yolanda.

The Manuel V. Pangilinan Group raised P31million; Deutsche Bank donated P17.6 million, Toyota Corp., with its local affiliates, contributed P10 million, while the SM Group of Companies donated P50,000 kalinga packages, apart from the P100 million it earlier allocated for the  Yolanda victims.

MVP Group helps

From a seed fund of P2 million, the amount so far collected by Tulong Kapatid, the social-action arm of the MVP Group of Companies, has ballooned to P31 million—and counting—following the live telethons aired over TV5 on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Tulong Kapatid raised P21 million in donations within one-and-a-half hours into its four-hour live telethon, as Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the companies under the group, led the fund-raising campaign.

The amount ballooned to more than P30 million at 2 a.m. on Monday, as actress-singer Sharon Cuneta announced a personal donation of P5 million.

SM sends relief packs

The SM Group of Companies, through the SM Foundation’s disaster-relief program, Operation Tulong Express, is currently conducting relief operations in typhoon-stricken areas across Luzon and the Visayas.

“The SM Group of Companies has mobilized SM Foundation’s Tulong Express disaster-relief facility. We will be distributing 50,000 kalinga packages to typhoon victims in Tacloban, Samar, Panay Island (Iloilo, Antique, Capiz), Cebu, Bicol and Bacolod,” said SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy.

The relief packages consist of bottles of mineral water, rice, ready-to-eat Ulamnam packs and cups of noodles.  A total of 50,000 relief packs are allocated in the following areas—Tacloban (20,000 packs), Cebu (10,000), Panay Island (7,000), Samar (5,000), Bohol (4,000), Bicol (3,000) and Bacolod (1,000).

Relief packs to Bicol were distributed on November 10. This week, relief packs to the other areas are scheduled for delivery either by land, sea or air.  The distribution is done in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Air Force, local government units, SM malls and SaveMore.

Toyota donates P10 million

In the aftermath of Yolanda, Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC), together with its local affiliates  Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) and Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corp. contributed a total of P10 million to be used in ongoing relief efforts for the typhoon victims.

TMP President Michinobu Sugata conveyed his sympathies to the victims of the super  typhoon ,saying, “It is with deepest regret that the recent typhoon has taken so many lives and has caused great destruction in many communities in the country.  It is our hope that Toyota’s assistance will help many Filipinos to start anew.”

Deutsche Bank donates P17 million

Deutsche Bank announced that it will donate a minimum of €300,000 (equivalent to P17,600,000) to disaster-relief efforts in the Philippines. In addition, the bank said many of its staff globally are making personal donations to relief efforts. Announcing the commitment, Deutsche Bank Co-Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific Alan Cloete said, “This disaster has touched the hearts of Deutsche’s employees throughout the world and we have seen an outpouring of support for relief efforts. We have a deep connection with the Philippines over many years and we will continue to contribute to relief efforts over an extended period.”   

Deutsche Bank Philippines Chief Country Officer Enrico Cruz said, “Through this financial commitment we hope to assist in rebuilding the lives and communities of those who have been affected by these tragic events.”

The bank will initially direct funds through the International Red Cross, and will also evaluate and respond to local needs and support local relief efforts, both in the short and medium term. 

In Photo: Top photo shows a February 22, 2012, image of Tacloban City, Leyte. Above photo shows a November 10, 2013, image of Tacloban City after Supertyphoon Yolanda. (AP/DigitalGlobe via Google)