MANILA, Philippines — Assistance to victims of tropical storm “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City continues to pour in, with SM Group so far donating P10 million, the Swiss government extending P15 million relief aid, and the Bulacan provincial government giving P400,000.
SM’s donation consists of P3 million cash, which was turned over by SM Prime to the city government, as well as P7 million in goods distributed by SM Foundation, SM Prime, and the SM Supermarket Group.
Savemore supermarket started distributing relief bags of ready-to-eat food in the West City Central School in Cagayn de Oro immediately after rescue and relief operations on December 19, followed by SM Prime in the Kauswagan Barangay Hall in Iligan on December 20.
SM Foundation was able to distribute relief bags to 11,000 families from December 21 to 23.
In close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and various local government agencies, SM Group reached out to families in Barangays Bonbon, Blulua, Tibasak, Balulang, Barra, Carmen, Consolacion, and Canitoan was well as the Kauswagan Community, Macasandig Elementary School and Barangay Hall, and Sitio Tambo.
SM Prime distributed goods to 1,000 families at the City Central School on December 24, while Savemore staff spent Christmas Day at the most devastated areas, including Isla de Oro and Isla Delta.
So far, SM was able to reach out to 17,000 families in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and hopes to be able to extend more help.
SM Prime has allocated an additional 2,000 bags, as well as mats and blankets for Iligan, while proceeds from its recent “Operation Tulong” donation campaign at all SM Supermalls from December 21-30 will be earmarked for more “Sendong” victims.
Meanwhile, the Swiss government completed its two-week mission in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Tuesday, extending a total of Swiss Francs 300,000 (approximately P15 million) in relief assistance to the victims.
Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber commended the efforts of the six-man Swiss emergency team.
Earlier, a team of Bulacan officials went to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to personally hand over checks for P400,000 for the the storm victims.
Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado said Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz and Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano received the donation from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Felicisima Mungcal, Political Affairs consultant Vicente Cruz, Provincial Public Health Office head Jocelyn Gomez, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office assistant head Norma Luarca.
The Makati City government also collected P50,000 in cash and donations.
On Tuesday, the Maguindanao-based Army’s 6th Infantry Division delivered six truck loads of relief goods to “Sendong” victims in Lanao del Sur and the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. (Freddie C. Velez, Sarah H. Velasco, Anna Liza T. Villas, and Ali G. Macabalang)