Fil-Am ‘Glee’ star Darren Criss asks fans to donate to Yolanda victims

“Glee” star Darren Criss took to Twitter (@DarrenCriss) Friday to urge fans to donate to the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda, which wrought destruction in Eastern Visayas a week ago.

He asked that they give at least $25 to the United Nations World Food Programme, which will help fund emergency meals for the survivors of the disaster.

Donors can then take a photo of their transaction, e-mail it to dcnotalone@gmail.com, and in return, Criss will send them an autographed postcard that says “You’re not alone”. All the donors’ names will also be printed on the same.

In a post on his website, he said his mother and most of his family hail from the Philippines, specifically Cebu. “…As a result I have always been proud of my Filipino heritage, as well as lucky enough to feel the tremendous support of the Filipino community throughout my life as an artist,” he wrote.

Criss, who plays the openly gay student Blaine Anderson on the musical show, thanked those who made their concern about his family back in the Philippines known, and conveyed at the same time his solidarity with the victims of the calamity.

He added that he hoped people would pass on his plea for donations, saying, “People are in need now.” He encouraged them to send their donations by Monday, November 18.

As of early afternoon Friday, Manila time, more than 150 have donated — less than an hour after his post.

Criss is quite close to Lea Salonga. In 2011, the two performed Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” on stage at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles. This week they were at a New York piano bar together, where they also performed a few songs.

source: interaksyon.com

No outside help has come to Samar - PDRRMC

MANILA - "Wala pa kaming outside aid na natatanggap."

That was the worried statement given by Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) information officer Christine Caidic to InterAksyon.com.

So far, she said, only the provincial government of Samar has come to help the devastated towns of Basey and Marabut, which were also leveled by Super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), suffering the same house-high waves that hit Tacloban City in Leyte.

"Depleted na rin po ang aming resources," Caidic said.

The two Samar towns are just across the narrow San Juanico Strait from Tacloban City. Next to Marabut is Eastern Samar. One has to pass through the towns of Balingaga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, and Salcedo before reaching Guiuan, where Yolanda made its first landfall on Friday.

The provincial government has been conducting clearing operations along the highways from its capital, Catbalogan, to Marabut and eventually to reach Guian.

No word yet has reached PDRRMC as to the actual number of casualties in Guiuan and nearby towns or to the progress the Department of Public Works and Highways have made in reaching the town, which is at the southern tip of the main Samar island.

No electricity, no banks

Caidic said the entire Region 8 still has no electricity and their province is already running low on fuel to be able to reach the devastated southern coastal towns.

She is also appealing for canned goods and other basic needs of survivors.

Other towns south of Catbalogan leading to Tacloban are not as heavily damaged but there are unconfirmed reports of deaths in the town of Sta. Rita, where the San Juanico Bridge starts.

"We have sent 10 teams to do needs assessment in other towns such as Pinabacdao, Yabong, and Paranas. But we will wait out this other typhoon [Zoraida] before we can send out teams in islands like Daram and Sumaraga, which are still unreachable until this time," Caidic said.

According to Louie Guillem of the Fire Volunteer Brigade of Catbalogan, residents of Sta. Rita, Villareal, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Paranas, and Motiong have been going to Catbalogan on foot since Monday to stock up on supplies since Tacloban trade has virtually shut down in the city.

"The problem is banks here are closed and people come here only to find out that they cannot withdraw money to buy basic necessities. Schools and offices are open here, why can't the banks open too?" he told InterAksyon.com.

Guillem's volunteer group was among those who went to Tacloban to give aid, especially water, but was later diverted to equally devastated towns of Basey and Marabut.

He said he was able to contact some friends in Ormoc, where mobile phone signal is spotty, and said Ormoc desperately needs help. Ormoc Villa Hotel is now serving as an evacuation center, where the owner is now staying.

"His mansion was also destroyed," Guillem said.

source: interaksyon.com

Philippines Inc mobilizes aid for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA – As the devastation wrought by Typhoon 'Yolanda' comes to light, Philippines Inc. has set into motion its philanthropic arm, leveraging on its ability not only to provide immediate aid, but also to mobilize more support beyond the boardroom.

In separate statements, corporates such as SM, Citi, Jollibee, Del Monte Pacific and Harbor Star Shipping were among those that have launched relief efforts for the victims of the disaster that left an estimated 10,000 people dead.

The SM group is setting up a P100-million calamity fund for areas affected by the typhoon as well as the recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Bicol.

The fund will focus on rebuilding homes, community centers, schools, and churches as well as providing immediate relief through food and supplies.

"SM Foundation is taking the lead in the relief effort with the nationwide reach of SM Cares of the mall group, SM Savemore, and BDO Foundation. Each group has a different expertise in the community support program, and will be working with community groups to expand the efforts and widen the reach of the relief operation," the group said.

“Operation Tulong Express” will be open for donations in SM malls, and an account in both BDO and China Bank will be open to accept cash donations.

Likewise, Citi Foundation has pledged a $250,000 disaster relief grant to the American Red Cross Pacific Typhoon Fund to support relief and recovery efforts in the communities affected by the typhoon.

Citi Philippines has established a special account to raise funds to go to the Philippine Red Cross, a member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to support the relief efforts and long-term rebuilding of the communities.

Donations may be sent to the following account:

Account Name: TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF FUND, US Dollar Account No: 1600125377, Peso Account No: 1400172923, Swift Code:  CITIPHMX, Routing Number:  021-0000-89 (CITINY), Address: Citibank, N.A. 8741 Paseo De Roxas Ave. Makati City, Philippines
Jollibee Foods Corp, through Jollibee Group Foundation, is also accepting donations for the victims through coin banks found in over 2,000 stores across the group’s portfolio of brands that include Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King.

Jollibee is also accepting donations through these bank accounts:

PESO ACCOUNT: Metrobank – Cubao Araneta Branch, Account Name: Jollibee Group Foundation, Account Number: 473-7-47301401-3
DOLLAR ACCOUNT: BDO – Megamall Branch Account Name: Jollibee Foundation, Inc, Account Number: 100661267008, Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Tug boat operator Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc has also allowed the Philippine Coast Guard to use the company's 300-foot Barge Lynx in transporting relief goods and supplies as well as equipment to Tacloban and other affected areas for free.

Barge Lynx, one of the largest barges in the Philippines, can transport 8,000 metric tons of goods, or the equivalent weight of 150,000 sacks of rice.

Del Monte Pacific Co Ltd said it would reach out to the local government agencies in Leyte in "providing meaningful assistance” to the victims.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc is donating P1 million to the typhoon victims through the PLDT-Smart Foundation, as part of the Tulong Kapatid efforts of the MVP group of companies.

The group’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation last Sunday raised P21 million in less than two hours during a telethon.

The company will also send 12,000 units of one-liter bottles, 15,000 one-gallon jugs and 10,000 pieces of bottled water to various public and private organizations. It already deployed 3,000 one-liter bottles and 1,100 one-gallon jugs of water to Alagang Kapatid Foundation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Navy.

In coordination with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Maynilad is also sending water engineers to Tacloban to provide technical assistance in getting the city’s water systems up and running. Water supply in these areas was disrupted because of widespread infrastructure damage.

“Typhoon Yolanda has inflicted unimaginable damage and losses to our countrymen in Visayas. We are committed to helping them recover and pick-up the pieces, in whatever way we can,” said Maynilad president Ricky P. Vargas.

“For those who also want to donate goods, they can drop off their in-kind donations in our Maynilad offices in Cavite, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Quezon City,” Vargas added.

Aboitiz Foundation has raised P30 million, including P5 million pledged by mega star Sharon Cuneta and P25 million by Union Bank of the Philippines.

Cuneta said she is giving a total of P10 million, with the other P5 million coursed through the Alagang Kapatid Foundation. “This is how much I believe in you both. God bless Visayas,” she said.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the Aboitiz group earlier set up a command center in the Visayas after shipping relief packs and hygiene kits for 6,500 families in Northern Cebu.

The foundation said donations can be coursed through its UShare portal http://ushare.unionbankph.com/aboitiz/, and through the following bank accounts: Union Bank of the Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944 and City Savings Bank Account No. 200-20031301

Lastly, the San Miguel group has mobilized its business units for the relief efforts, with affiliate Philippine Airlines (PAL) committing to airlift relief goods for free.

Open to government agencies and duly-registered foundations and non-government organizations, the PAL Cargo Humanitarian Grant will transport the following necessities: medicines, medical supplies, powdered milk for infants, hygiene products; toiletries such as new underwear, and ready-to-eat products such as dried fish and dried fruits, which cannot be readily sourced in the affected areas.

The San Miguel Foundation also coordinated with the DSWD to donate thousands of boxes of relief goods, consisting of drinking water and canned meat products.

San Miguel Brewery Inc. is repacking additional relief goods, using its Mandaue Brewery in Cebu as a command center for relief operations and as drop-off point for donations.

Petron Corp meanwhile is tapping its 500 service stations nationwide as drop-off points for donations. The company also said it will establish temporary service stations to ensure reliable fuel supply at the right prices in order to help recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

source: interaksyon.com

Palace says P26.18B available for relief, rehab as House lets go P12B in PDAF for victims

Malacañang said Tusday there is at least P26.18 billion available for relief and rehabilitation in areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” while members of the House of Representatives said they are waiving some P12 billion of their pork barrel this year for the same purpose.

"We wish to assure the public that we’re already moving funds to address the urgent need for disaster relief in all typhoon-stricken areas," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

The funds and their sources are:

P6.4 billion from the President's Social Fund
P16.6 billion in government savings
P1.08 billion in Quick Relief Funds
P1.28 billion in Calamity Funds
P824 million in Contingency Funds
"Because we only have two more months before the year concludes, however, the more costly rehabilitation requirements will be largely addressed through the 2014 budget," Abad said. "By then, fresh budgetary support will be available to aid all efforts at repairing the damage wrought by Yolanda to the Visayas region.”

“Nonetheless,” he added, “the more urgent post-disaster requirements -- such as the restoration of power, water, and other utilities in all affected communities, as well as the immediate provision of shelter, food, medical and rescue activities, and clearing operations -- will be amply supported by available funds."

At the House, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was joined by other leaders of the chamber and of political parties in filing House Resolution No. 07, which authorizes the executive department to realign the unspent portion of their Priority Development Assistance Fund to the national government’s calamity fund.

However, the amount is currently the subject of a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, which is hearing several petitions to declare the PDAF unconstitutional.

The petitions were filed following revelations that as much as P10 billion in the congressional pork barrel could have been embezzled in a conspiracy that involved lawmakers and other government officials allegedly colluding with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

"We have informed the Solicitor General to make representations with the Supreme Court that we are not interested (in the unreleased PDAF) anymore, provided the same is realigned by the executive to the calamity fund," Belmonte said at a news conference.

He said the estopped pork barrel would boost government’s ability to respond to the needs of Yolanda’s victims.

It could also help in the continued rehabilitation of Bohol and Cebu provinces, which bore the brunt of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas last month.

"These disasters have caused massive loss of lives, as well as major damage to property, infrastructure, livelihood and agriculture, bringing much pain and suffering to the Filipino people," the House resolution said.

"Members of Congress express their desire to assist the victims of these disasters and help in the speedy post-disaster recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the provinces affected by the disasters," it added.

Following the scandal triggered by the pork barrel scam, lawmakers removed the P25.2-billion appropriation for PDAF in the proposed 2014 budget and realigned the funds to six government agencies.

House members also pledged P10,000 each from their salaries and to mobilize relief teams at both the Batasan Pambansa and their respective districts, Belmonte said after emerging from a meeting with lawmakers.

The initiative was formalized in House Resolution 446, which will be signed by the 289 House members. They earlier adopted two similar resolutions for donations to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu, and the families affected by the fighting in Zamboanga City.

At the same time, Belmonte said the House will support the realignment of certain items in the proposed 2014 budget for a P10-20 billion rehabilitation fund for areas ravaged by calamities.

He said this will be discussed when they sit down with senators in the bicameral conference committee meetings on the budget.

Belmonte called on his colleagues to organize their respective relief drives. "Difficult as the situation, this will really require self-help. Let's not be too dependent on Manila," he said.

Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said congressional districts can be used as staging points of relief going to the typhoon-hit areas.

He said lawmakers are prepared to help manage the packing and transport of goods that would pass through their districts.

For example, Sarmiento said that Surigao City can be a drop-off point going to Leyte.

Relief items may also be ferried from Cebu City to Ormoc, Leyte.  Iloilo City can take care of goods to be transported to Aklan and Capiz, two other provinces affected by the typhoon.

source: interaksyon.com

Visayas BPOs lock down at height of 'Yolanda' wrath

MANILA - A number of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the Visayas temporarily stopped operations amid the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Jose Mari P. Mercado told InterAksyon.com that firms had to prioritize the safety of employees, who would have difficulty going to work amid the harsh weather.

"Some [companies] shut down, some went on lean operations. Our priority stays--safety and security of employees," Mercado said.

Some of the BPO industry's hubs in the Visayas such as Cebu and Iloilo were along the path of Yolanda--said to be the world's strongest typhoon this year.

Mercado said IBPAP has yet to assess the impact of Yolanda, but the sector was "definitely affected" by the typhoon.

Tampa, Florida-based Sykes Enterprises Inc said in a statement that the impact of Yolanda on its Philippine operations “has been immaterial, given the company’s disaster recovery planning and built-in redundant support infrastructure.”

“The company has been operating in the Philippines since 1997, and the number of typhoons and storms the archipelago experiences on average is roughly 20 on an annual basis,” Sykes noted.

Sykes has facilities in Metro Manila and Cebu.

source: interaksyon.com

Engineers working to fully restore Sun Cellular mobile services in Bohol, Cebu

Operations of Sun Cellular in Bohol and Cebu—which were hard-hit by a major earthquake this morning—have been affected, the company said in a statement.

However, engineers are “working to normalize services shortly,” said Smart Communications Inc., which acquired Sun Cellular, in a statement.

Smart also said that its mobile phone service in Bohol and Cebu remains “remains largely operational despite the damage inflicted on some cell sites and network facilities by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Central Visayas early this morning.”

Since electricity is unavailable in parts of Bohol and Cebu, Smart will be “deploying generator sets to power key cell sites and keep mobile phone and internet services running,” the company said in an announcement.

“We are also setting up free call services and free mobile phone charging stations in affected towns and municipalities to assist residents as well as emergency agencies involved in rescue and relief operations,” it added.

Smart Communications Inc. is the mobile phone unit of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), which is led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also chairs TV-5.

source: interaksyon.com

Earthquake shuts down Cebu BPO industry for a few hours

MANILA – Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu have resumed operations hours after a strong quake struck many parts of Central Visayas this morning.

In a statement, the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) said call centers in Cebu temporarily stopped operations this morning “to ensure the safety of thousands of employees.”

A 7.2-magnitude quake shook Central Visayas around 8:00 a.m., causing damage to many structures in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

Citing a report by the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president and chief executive Jose Mari P. Mercado told InterAksyon.com that there were “no reports of damage” so far among BPO companies operating in Cebu.

“Evacuations occurred, but [operations] back to normal now. All on heightened alert for aftershocks and prepared to evacuate if necessary. Safety of our employees is paramount,” Mercado said.

“Several buildings have been safely evacuated immediately after the earthquake and are undergoing structural assessments for safety by the building owners and their engineers. Re-entry into the buildings will only commence once the buildings have been cleared that they are safe,” CCAP president Benedict C. Hernandez said, adding that “the safety of contact center employees in the affected provinces is its number one priority.”

Cebu hosts about 100 BPO firms, while the rest of Central Visayas is home to about 20 companies, Mercado said. About 70,000 people are employed by Cebu-based outsourcing firms.

Most of the firms within the Cebu Business and IT Park are contact centers, which “have business continuity plans that we follow for such events… ensuring their employees are guided to ensure their safety and welfare,” Hernandez said.

Cebu City ranked 8th in global advisory firm Tholons’ 2013 Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations report.

source: interaksyon.com