The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday started the distribution of cash and emergency shelter assistance as part of the P173 million worth of aid for provinces affected by typhoons Agaton and Odette.
The distribution started in San Francisco and Pintuyan towns in Southern Leyte where PRC provided cash and emergency shelter assistance to more than 400 families. Each family received P5,000 worth of CGI (corrugated galvanized iron) sheets, and shelter tool kits.
The PRC noted that eight months after Odette struck the Philippines, the organization continue to assist severely affected communities in partnership with the German Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). It also sustained its support to Baybay City, which was badly hit by Agaton in April.
Wednesday’s humanitarian aid distribution makes a total of more than 6,000 Odette-affected families in Southern Leyte province who have received cash and emergency shelter assistance from the PRC, amounting to P40.78 million.
There were 400 families in Hilongos, Southern Leyte, who also received CGI sheets and shelter tool kits.
The PRC is also set to distribute this week cash and shelter assistance in Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and Surigao del Norte.
Earlier this year, in March 2022, PRC also gave cash to 491 families in Hilongos, amounting to a total of P2,455,000.00.
In Baybay, PRC will provide cash assistance to 587 families, with a total amount of P2,935,000 as part of its response operations.
“Katulad ng sinabi ko sa simula ng 2022, hindi natin kakalimutan ang typhoon Odette. At nandito tayo nang pangmatagalan para sa mga naapektuhan ng tropical depression Agaton. Patuloy ang Red Cross sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan sa Southern Leyte at Leyte hanggang sila ay makabawi mula sa mga epekto ng Odette at Agaton [Just like what we have said in 2022, we will not forget the victims of typhoon Odette. And we are also here for those people affected by tropical depression Agaton. Red Cross will continue to give assistance to our countrymen in Southern Leyte and Leyte until they can rise again],” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said as he quoted the PRC’s hymn, “When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done.” -30-
