GROUNDED A Ro-Ro ship leans against the seawall in the aftermath of Typhoon “Odette” in Cebu. —screengrab from PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY.
With Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) leaving large swaths of the country ravaged by strong winds and flooding, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Friday called for in-kind donations to help those affected by the typhoon.
In a video message, Vice President Leni Robredo said she had temporarily converted her campaign volunteer hub in Quezon City into a disaster relief hub to better respond to calls for help.
This also came on the heels of Sen. Manny Pacquiao calling on other presidential aspirants to set aside the national races and to coordinate their efforts to reach as many as possible.
“I appeal to my fellow candidates, Vice President Leni Robredo, [Sen. Ferdinand] “Bongbong” Marcos [Jr.], [Manila] Mayor [Francisco] “Isko Moreno” [Domagoso], Sen. [Panfilo] Ping Lacson, Ka Leody [de Guzman)]that due to the devastation of Typhoon Odette, that we set aside all politics and join together all our resources to help our fellow Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao,” Pacquiao said in posts on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Using the hashtag, #OdettePH, he added in Filipino: “Let us work together to help our countrymen affected by the typhoon. Now is the time to come together as one. Let us help them.”
So far, only Robredo—who has been mobilizing typhoon recovery and response efforts well before Pacquiao’s call—has responded positively.
Leni, Manny coordination
“Joining you in this call, Sen. Manny,” she said, in a tweet posted late Thursday night.
The senator replied: “Thank you VP Leni. Let’s begin coordinating our efforts, we have already prepared cargo planes so we can mobilize and respond quickly.”
Robredo, who posted about her office’s move to preposition relief goods as early as Thursday morning, said: “Thank you, Sen. Our team will get in touch with yours.”
As of Friday, the OVP has called for “urgent” relief goods—blankets, hygiene items, bottled water, face masks, alcohol, rice and ready-to-eat food.
Interested donors may drop them off at LeniKiko2022 Volunteer Center in 248 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.
Robredo also flew to Bohol as of Friday afternoon to check the on-ground situation of those ravaged by Odette, according to her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez.
Pacquiao made the call on Thursday night after visiting local officials and his supporters in Digos City in Davao del Sur.
On Friday morning, the retired boxing champ also set up a fundraiser for the typhoon victims through his Manny Pacquiao Foundation. As of Friday afternoon, P33,890 out of the P5-million goal has been raised.
Isko appeals
According to a post on the foundation’s Facebook page, donations can be coursed through Facebook, cryptocurrency or through the foundation’s website at pacquiaofoundation.org.
Domagoso, for his part, on Friday called a special session of the Manila City Council to send money to the communities badly hit by the storm.
The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer also plans to travel to Cebu City “to personally lead the relief efforts courtesy of the City of Manila,” his campaign manager Lito Banayo said.
Domagoso said he asked Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, who presides over the City Council, to pass a resolution setting aside a sum of money for relief operations in Cebu province and other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao that were devastated by floods brought by Odette.
He also issued an appeal to Manila residents to contribute to the relief effort.
“Thankful as we are that Metro Manila and Luzon were spared by the Typhoon Odette, I now appeal to kindhearted Manileños to share whatever they can for our Visayan and Mindanao brothers severely affected by the typhoon,” Domagoso said.
Meanwhile, Marcos thanked volunteers who joined his relief drive for victims of Odette.
Marcos’ office said convoys of relief trucks would be sent to Tacloban City, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Bohol, Cebu Province and Cebu City. —With reports from Krixia Subingsubing, Leila B. Salaverria, DJ Yap and Julie M. Aurelio INQ