P&G to rebuild sari-sari stores in Yolanda-affected areas

Three weeks after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck and ravaged central Visayas, the government is encouraging banks, stores, groceries and other businesses to reopen as soon as possible to help revive the local economy in the severely-afflicted towns.

As citizens begin to pick up the pieces and restore normalcy in their lives, Procter & Gamble Philippines is committing to rebuild 5,000 sari-sari stores by helping them clean and fix damaged structures and replenish their stocks of P&G products. After these rebuilding efforts, P&G will organize trainings for the store owners on business improvement and crisis preparedness topics.

“We recognize the importance of encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit in this time of need, and we want to help by assisting the sari-sari store owners in the different localities affected by the recent supertyphoon. They have been our business partners and their revival is critical in stimulating the local economy and helps them get back on their feet,” says Sumeet Vohra, president and general manager of P&G Philippines.

The company manufactures essential personal care and household products like Safeguard, Pampers, Tide, Ariel, Joy, Downy and Duracell. The company has provided over P67 million of its products to aid the victims in the aftermath of Yolanda through its partners like the Philippine Red Cross and World Vision. An initial cash donation of $150,000 was also made by P&G USA to World Vision ($75,000) and the Supertyphoon Yolanda relief fund of the American Red Cross ($75,000). The company also provided trucks to Sagip Kapamilya in its distribution of relief goods in Tacloban City.

Last Nov. 16-17, the company mounted Aid Couture, a fund-raising activity which helped raise P500,000 for the Philippine Red Cross. Aid Couture helps convert pre-loved designer clothes to cash that the Red Cross can use to buy food and medicines to aid Supertyphoon Yolanda victims.

As of Nov. 30 (6 a.m.), Supertyphoon Yolanda has claimed 5,632 lives, with 26,136 injured and 1,769 still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Meanwhile in its press statement, the National Economic Development Authority estimates that the fourth quarter growth could slow down to 4.1 percent, and that the negative impact may extend to 2014 due to reduced production capacity.

“P&G Philippines will do its share to help the Philippine government in the restoration of the areas stricken by Typhoon Yolanda. We want to encourage other companies and organizations to also help in the revival of business in these areas,” says Vohra.