ICTSI completes Odette relief rollout

The Razon Group donates over PhP60 million in aid for 30,000 families displaced by typhoon Odette in Surigao del Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental and Palawan.

The ICTSI Foundation completed the successful rollout of relief assistance for over 30,000 families in remote areas in central and southern Philippines hardest hit by super typhoon Odette last December.

The Foundation led Razon Group companies in the collaborative and quick response to the critical needs of Odette survivors. The Razon Group was able to bring in over PHP 60 million worth of relief goods and emergency supplies to hardest hit communities in Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and Misamis Oriental.

With the help of local government units (LGU), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and various public agencies, beneficiaries were immediately identified, especially survivors in remote communities impacted by Odette. ICTSI worked closely with private partners and non-government organizations (NGO) to efficiently implement the logistics of relief operations from repacking to the quick delivery and distribution of goods.

“We thank our government and NGO partners for helping us in extending assistance in whichever way possible to our fellow countrymen and assisting in the recovery and rebuilding efforts of communities damaged by Odette,” says Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president and concurrent ICTSI Foundation president.

He adds: “The ICTSI Foundation will continue to extend assistance as part of recovery efforts to communities severely affected by this tragedy. The entire Razon Group – ICTSI, Solaire, Manila Water, MORE Power and Prime Infra – will continue to help wherever we can.”

The ICTSI Foundation and Solaire’s Bloomberry Cultural Foundation distributed hot meals, grocery packages, hygiene kits, mats, blankets and mosquito nets to residents of the hardest hit areas of Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and Misamis Oriental. The Foundations also donated construction materials, solar lights, chainsaws and assorted goods to the DSWD.

ICTSI unit Manila North Harbor Port, Inc. (NorthPort), local liners Moreta Shipping Lines, MCC Transport Philippines, Gothong Southern Shipping Lines, Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., construction firm DM Consunji and barge operator CIP worked together to bring in much needed supplies from Metro Manila to the Odette-affected areas.

Repacking of relief goods and items were centralized at NorthPort’s passenger terminal with the help of ICTSI and NorthPort employees, volunteers from nearby Tondo communities and partner organizations.

A 19-man team by Solaire and Bloomberry headed relief efforts in Siargao, while ICTSI Foundation and corporate staff went to Southern Leyte, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu and Misamis Oriental. The military and LGU beneficiaries assisted the Razon units in the transport, storage and distribution of donations to affected communities.

Around 15,000 families in the holiday island of Siargao comprising nine towns in Surigao Del Norte benefitted from the relief assistance. Relief goods were likewise sent to neighboring Dinagat Island.

In Southern Leyte, the ICTSI Foundation reached out to 4,000 households in 13 barangays in the town of Sogod. The Tacloban offices of the Philippine Ports Authority, Office of Civil of Defense and the DSWD assisted in relief efforts.

Local port operator Globalport Terminals also fast tracked the safe handling of relief cargo in Tacloban port. Four additional container vans filled with donated goods were turned over to the DSWD.

In Cebu, around 2,500 families in 13 barangays in eight towns and cities – Cebu City, Lapu Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Carmen, Liloan, Compostela, and Consolacion – received aid.  The AFP Visayas Command, the Philippine Association of Social Workers and local port operator South Cebu Harbour Container Terminal helped in the transport, security, and distribution of relief packs in the province.

In Misamis Oriental, ICTSI’s Mindanao Container Terminal at the Phividec Industrial Estate led distribution efforts together with the AFP. A total of 2,300 households in 62 barangays in Gingoog City, Cagayan de Oro, Lagonglong, Balingasag, Jasaan and Tagoloan benefitted from the relief efforts.

In Bohol, 2,000 families in six barangays in the towns of Ubay, Bien Unido and Carlos Garcia were provided relief packages. The 47th Infantry Batallion and 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, along with youth- and school-based organizations, Youth Lead Philippines, The Feast Tagbilaran, Kabiling Lunhaw, PMI Colleges, Tagbilaran City College and Holy Name University, assisted in the distribution.

In Palawan, some 1,500 families in seven barangays in Roxas town received relief packs from the ICTSI Foundation.

The Manila Water Foundation distributed 3,600 five-gallon bottles of water and 237 boxes of hygiene kits to approximately 27,000 individuals in Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Siargao, Dinagat Islands and Surigao City. In addition, its parent company Manila Water deployed three mobile treatment plants and six water tankers to address the scarce supply of potable water in Cebu, Bohol and Siargao for over 135,000 beneficiaries.

Manila Water continues to provide support to severely affected communities by sending out additional relief support of 100 five-gallon bottled water and 75 cases of hygiene products to Palawan.

MORE Power in Iloilo City was able to fully restore the power supply of its entire franchise area in less than 24 hours after the typhoon ravaged the city. Through Partners in Power Foundation, MORE Power sent a 24-man augmentation team to Negros Island to help in restoration works undertaken by the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative, as part of the Department of Energy’s Task Force Kapatid.

MORE Power and Partners for Power also launched a relief drive in Kabankalan City, among the hardest-hit towns in Negros Occidental. Nearly 70 percent of the province was flooded.

The DSWD reported close to 1.8 million people or 452,307 families were affected by Odette, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council placed the damage to agriculture and infrastructure at over P47 billion.