BALANCING ACT. A resident Iof Palmera Homes Phase 3 in Novaliches, Quezon City fixes things at his submerged house on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). Torrential rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina caused widespread flooding that placed Metro Manila under a state of calamity. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles has instructed all PCSO branches and small-town lottery authorized agency corporations (AACs) to conduct immediate relief drive in areas affected by Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The directive came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued an order to all frontline agencies to ensure timely assistance to families affected by the recent calamities.
"I have instructed our branch offices to coordinate with local government units for a swifter and smoother distribution of groceries and food packs to the affected families," Robles said in a media interview on Wednesday.
The PCSO team, led by Robles, had planned to conduct a relief drive in Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) but widespread flooding due to heavy rains forced them to return to the office.
“We were literally stopped in our tracks by the heavy rains and massive flooding from bringing relief goods and other assistance to the victims especially those in the Camanava area,” Robles said.
He added that they had already prepared as early as Tuesday the relief goods which were placed in plastic water pails called “Charitimba” for distribution, shortly after Malacanang ordered the suspension of work in government offices.
The PCSO will proceed with the distribution of relief goods on Thursday, along with the AACs who have expressed their willingness to participate in the relief operations.
The contributions from various organizations and AACs for the relief efforts include:
* Hit It Big Gaming Corporation (Cagayan): 200 groceries
* Pines Estate and Gaming Corp. (Benguet and Baguio City STL-AAC): 30 sacks of rice
* Caloocan AAC: 10 cavans of rice
* Grand 888 AAC: 100 packs of groceries
*Great Mind Games and Amusement Corp- Muntinlupa groceries for 900 families
* Ludis Bay AAC Caloocan -10 cavans of rice
* Pluto AAC- Manila relief goods for 500 families
* Tiger Claws AAC- Pasay relief good for 300 families
* IRIS ACC- Las Pinas relief goods
* Winning Pick AAC- Malabon relief goods
* Lucent AAC- Quezon City relief goods
In a related development, the PCSO is scheduled to conduct a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity on Thursday after the 2 p.m. lotto draw.
During this event, they will distribute groceries, soup, and bread to those in need.
A state of calamity has been declared in the National Capital Region by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Wednesday following the massive flooding caused by the southwest monsoon and Super Typhoon Carina.
The declaration came following a meeting by Metro Manila mayors presided over by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, which would enable the local government units to access emergency funds swiftly and implement relief operations to aid the displaced residents. (PNA)
