Groups respond to calls for phones, SIM cards

TACLOBAN CITY—One of the country’s biggest telecommunications firm and a foundation helping people cope with disasters have distributed at least 50 mobile phones and SIM cards with the help of education officials here.

Rene “Butch” Meily, executive director of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), said his group linked up with Smart Communications to restore communication between evacuees and their loved ones outside Visayas.

He said the project would primarily benefit the Department of Education and units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which were deployed here to render humanitarian services.

Apl.de.ap, Filipino-American member of the popular band Black Eyed Peas, said the 50 phones and SIM cards came with solar-powered batteries.

Apl.de.ap visited disaster-stricken areas in the Visayas to survey the damage left by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and film a video to solicit help for storm survivors.

He said he wanted to see the extent of destruction for himself “so when I go back home, I can tell all my friends how much we need to help.”

Songs, concerts

The international artist added he wants to encourage his fellow performers to create songs and do concerts for the benefit of Yolanda victims. He was in Cebu City on Monday and went to Tacloban City the next day to view the destruction left by Yolanda.

Meily said tents had also been distributed to serve as temporary homes for evacuees in Tacloban City while groups are preparing for major housing and livelihood projects.

He said PDRF plans to give fishing boats to fishermen who lost their boats to Yolanda and retail store packages to those who want to start small businesses.