Posts Tagged ‘Baguio’

WE International Philippines Relief Operations

Posted By abee on 10.15.2009 • (0) 

Two major typhoons hit the Philippines within the last three (3) weeks. The first one, Ketsana (Ondoy), dumped three (3) times more rain in Metro Manila than Hurricane Katrina in just six (6) hours causing devastating and fatal floods. And Parma (Pepeng), occurring just days after Ketsana, caused deadly landslides in the northern part of the country swallowing up to 80% of Pangasinan, the 3^rd largest rice-producing province in the country, rendering major thoroughfares impassable and leaving areas like Baguio and Benguet – where Igorot tribes still reside in mountains – completely cut-off without power, fuel and unable to receive relief goods, medicines and assistance.

In response to the sudden and great need that resulted from the damage and destruction caused by Ketsana and Parma, members of our team coordinated with and participated in relief operations throughout the metropolis.  Thanks to the generosity of our friends from all over the world, we were able to buy much needed water and food to donate.  The team also organized a unique and environmentally conscious relief operation wherein relief goods were packed in reusable blankets, pillow-cases, towels and bed sheets. The relief bags were distributed to Marikina, Paranaque, Pasig, San Juan, and, with the help of LBC in Rizal – even as some of these areas remained flooded.

Despite the damage, grief and sorrow typhoons Ketsana and Parma caused, they also brought out such awe-inspiring selflessness and generosity in everyone – friends, family and strangers from within the Philippines and abroad.  Amongst the most inspiring, WE International Philippines’ sponsored students and out-of-school youth from Smokey Mountain voiced out their desire to help and joined the WE team in packing and distributing relief bags to the victims of the typhoons as well.

* On Friday, 16 October, South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), will be doing a missionary flight with the WE International Philippines Team at 6am to Baguio to bring medicines and relief goods: flashlights/batteries, candles/matches, soap, blankets, clothes/underwear, rice, cooking/eating utensils, water purification tablets.  WE will be hiking up to parts of Baguio and Benguet to bring relief and first aid to the people who have been and remain unreachable.

Tagged As: Baguio, Ketsana, Manila, Ondoy, Parma, Pepeng, Relief, Smokey Mountain, WE International, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News