One month on: World Vision assists more than 9,000 Typhoon Odette-affected families

World Vision supported more than 9,000 typhoon-affected families in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Surigao del Norte

World Vision provided life-saving essentials including emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, water purification kits, food packs, and non-food items including mosquito nets and blankets.

World Vision is concerned with the wellbeing of the affected population especially children, as many communities are still reeling from the impact of the typhoon.

A month after Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) entered Philippine shores and left billions worth of agriculture and infrastructure damages, World Vision supported more than 9,000 families including 10,912 children with life-saving relief aid in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Surigao del Norte.

Cignal Connect to provide satellite broadband for Typhoon Odette relief efforts

Cignal Connect offers free internet access in Palawan, Leyte, Bohol, and Dinagat Islands.

Typhoon Odette displaced more than 1M families as it swept through Visayas and Mindanao last December 16, 2021. While humanitarian and relief operations are ongoing, many families are still left without connectivity as cell towers and fiber cables are being repaired and restored.

Cignal understands the importance of internet connectivity in helping these families communicate with loved ones and start their recovery and rebuilding journey. Thus, Cignal’s Satellite Broadband Service, Cignal Connect, in cooperation with its generous partners — satellite provider KTSAT and PLDT, and Cignal Territory Partners CRFT, Save and Earn, Cellcom, and Digilife — will provide free connectivity to 5 sites located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Maasin City, Southern Leyte; and Dinagat Islands.

Globe supports employee welfare and local communities in recovering from Typhoon Odette

The devastation that Typhoon Odette brought was felt across several areas in the Philippines–mainly Palawan, and the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Globe’s own employees were not spared. At least 630 employees were affected by the severe weather disturbance.

In response, Globe has released an initial cash assistance for all affected employees and partnered with PureGo and the Ayala Group to deliver relief goods.

The internal #ALAGANGGLOBE donation drive has so far collected over P750,000, with employees contributing to augment support for their fellow ka-Globe across the country. 

Through its sister company Ayala Land, Inc., Globe is also providing temporary shelter for those whose homes were severely damaged. It is also offering home restoration support with interest-free company loans, Ayala Cooperative loan products,  and Globe Cooperative loan products.

“Our people are the most important resource. Our Crisis Team has been working tirelessly in ensuring that our fellow ka-Globe and their families have access to essentials during this time,” said Ato Jiao, Globe Chief Human Resource Officer.

He added, “As our people work to help the Filipino communities in Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan restore connection to communication services, we will continue to support our employees and their families’ needs so that we may all bounce back from this endeavor together.”

Shopee Delivers Aid to Typhoon Odette Victims via Shopee Express

Shopee collaborated with partner brands and utilized its nationwide Shopee Express fleet to dispatch immediate relief 

Almost a month since Typhoon Odette devastated several provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, millions of Filipinos continue to reel from the aftermath. To support and serve the communities affected, Shopee partnered with several brands and corporations and mobilized its nationwide Shopee Express network to help provide immediate relief to Typhoon Odette victims in less accessible areas.

Reaching the affected communities via Shopee Express

With the typhoon damaging communication and transportation infrastructure, a lot of the affected communities experienced difficulty receiving aid. With its nationwide coverage, Shopee Express trucks and vehicles have been able to transport water, health kits, water filters, solar lights, and other relief goods from brands and organizations such as the Manila Water Foundation, Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc., Unilab, Akari Lighting, Envirocab, Socone, Asia Brewery, Inc., Mitsushi, Herco Trading, Inc., Qoncept Furniture, Foodplus, Del Monte, Dohera Corporation, Universal Robina Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Lions Club International, and Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation. 

DITO Telecommunity connecting Filipinos after Typhoon Odette onslaught in beleaguered localities

Dr. Jobe Buling-Viernes, the coordinator of San Beda University-Graduate School of Business, joins relief operations to distribute 500 DITO SIM cards  to local members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), students, drivers, and municipal employees in Valencia, Negros Oriental. Photos were taken by: Dr. Jobe Buling-Viernes

Nothing is more crucial than staying connected in times of calamity and DITO Telecommunity has been a lifebelt for many Filipinos who have been massively affected by the recent onslaught of typhoon Odette in the country.

While most mobile services were temporarily rendered unserviceable by the catastrophe, the newly laid out DITO cell towers stood resilient in the beleaguered provinces, except for only six of DITO microsites that were affected.

Donate to Typhoon Odette Victims via Shopee App and Shopee Will Match It Up to ₱1M

Donate to Shopee’s partner organizations such as GMA Kapuso Foundation, UNICEF, and World Vision until January 4 

To help the thousands of devastated Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao grappling with the aftermath of super typhoon Odette, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Odette Support initiative wherein users can buy donation vouchers through the app, with the commitment to match up to ₱1,000,000 worth of total donations made to Shopee’s partner charities for this initiative. 

From December 23, 2021, to January 4, 2022, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used for water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities UNICEF, World Vision, and GMA Kapuso Foundation. Users can view and purchase these Typhoon Odette Support vouchers through https://shopee.ph/m/odette-support via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.

Odette Relief Efforts with Tzu Chi Foundation

Tzu Chi Foundation, Digital Pilipinas, and industry
leaders discuss a strategic response to
Odette victims – and for future calamities.

Tzu Chi Foundation, industry leaders collaborate for strategic response to Odette victims 

Beyond donations, with preparations for future calamities

A week shy from Christmas, the devastation wrought by super typhoon Odette has leveled large parts of the central and southern Philippines, placing six regions under a state of calamity: Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. However, the lack of communications within the affected regions and the unpassable roads between the various towns have made the urgent distribution of assistance an enormous challenge. This prompted a call from and for business and NGO leaders to collaborate to get the communities back on their feet, as well as to form strategic responses for future calamities.