Pharma group sends aid to typhoon-hit Bicol

The PHAPCares Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, provided assistance to at least 2,000 families affected by Super Typhoon Rolly (International Name: Goni) in the Bicol Region. 

As part of its initial response, the PHAPCares Foundation provided food packs for families in Albay province. While there, they also conducted an assessment to identify the other health needs of communities on the typhoon path. 

“Our heart goes to the families who have been affected by Super Typhoon Rolly. We are aware that it is crucial to immediately respond because health is often made vulnerable by natural disasters. Extreme weather, changing conditions in temporary shelters, and traumatic experiences all have an ill effect on the health of the people,” said PHAPCares Executive Director Dr. Rosarita Quijano-Siasoco. 

Beyond Bicol Region, the PHAPCares Foundation will also be turning over common medicines for use of flood-hit communities in Macabebe and Masantol, Pampanga.  

“During calamities, the provision of medicines to health facilities help augment their resources as the country expects more typhoons this year. The availability of medicines needed during calamities allows our frontliners to respond quickly to save lives,” said PHAPCares President Ms Jannette Jakosalem. 

Ms Jakosalem said that the PHAPCares Foundation has also launched a campaign among its member pharmaceutical companies calling for donations to help communities displaced by the super typhoon. 

Earlier, the PHAPCares Foundation and PHAP Members contributed about P120M monetary and in-kind donations to the country's COVID-19 response. The said donation drive was launched to help protect frontliners and support more than 1.5 million families and over 155 hospitals nationwide during the pandemic.

About PHAPCares Foundation

The PHAPCares Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-stock organization established by members of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), a group representing the research-based providers of quality and life-saving medicines in the country today. Incorporated in 2003, the PHAPCares Foundation is mandated to serve as the social responsibility arm of PHAP to help improve the health and lives of Filipinos disadvantaged by sickness, poverty, conflicts and disasters.