MANILA, Philippines?The Western Union Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Western Union Company, has pledged a series of initiatives?immediate direct financial support, agent fund matching for reconstruction, employee giving and charity drives?towards relief and reconstruction efforts in the Philippines, following the devastating flooding brought by tropical storm ?Ondoy? (international codename: Ketsana).
The Western Union Foundation joined international relief agency World Vision to provide immediate relief including provisions, medical supplies and emergency bedding for 500 Filipino families up to the value of US$50,000.
Western Union?s Philippine headquarters and regional call center AROC, both based in Manila, have begun a charity drive to encourage employees to donate money, supplies and volunteer hours.
Financial donations, made by Western Union employees worldwide, will be matched by the Western Union Foundation under its Employee Giving Circles Program and donated to World Vision.
Likewise, employee volunteer hours will be channeled to World Vision. All employee donations in-kind will be channeled to the ABS-CBN Foundation, which offers outreach programs for children, their families and the community.
World Vision is working with the Philippine Coast Guard to distribute aid as quickly as possible, dispatching relief by helicopter to some of the hard-to-reach areas. Thousands of houses in these areas have been damaged or destroyed, and many families lost everything when floodwaters swept through their homes.
World Vision is organizing food-for-work and cash-for-work programs to help communities recover and clean up their streets, community buildings and schools.
?Our immediate priority is to support urgent relief efforts in the affected areas,? said Patricia Riingen, Senior Vice President for Philippines and Indochina, The Western Union Company. ?Our thoughts are with the flood victims and their families. We admire the heroes leading the rescue effort.?
?We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with these heroes in the wake of Ondoy. We are confident our contribution will help in some way to bring the stranded to safety, food to the hungry and clothing to those whose lives have been literally turned upside down. Our thoughts are with everybody at this time of need.?
"The impact of this tropical storm on Manila has been devastating" said Elnora Avarientos, World Vision's national director in the Philippines.
"Many have lost everything, including bedding, food, education materials and clothing. The poorest living in slums and settlements are especially badly hit. We continue to set up Child-Friendly Spaces for children in the hardest hit areas including sending doctors to attend to health problems. We are also working alongside the Philippine Coast Guard to reach those stranded in the hardest to reach situations using helicopters,? Avarientos said.
The Western Union Foundation grant is part of the Western Union Our World, Our Family? program, a five-year, US$50 million initiative to empower migrant worker and their families through education and global economic opportunity programs that help them stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams.
?We set aside resources for times like these and know that after the most pressing needs are met, the affected families will need continued support to rebuild their lives,? said Luella Chavez D?Angelo, President, The Western Union Foundation.
The storm, which packed maximum wind speeds of nearly 110 kph, brought one month?s rain to the capital city of Manila and neighboring provinces in less than seven hours. It is the worst disaster to hit Manila and surrounding areas in decades.
