Free PAL cargo airlift to quake-struck areas
MANILA, Philippines–The free shipment of donations by Philippine Airlines (PAL) will now cover Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Cebu for those affected by the recent deadly earthquake that struck the Visayas.
PAL President Jaime J. Bautista has instructed the PAL Foundation to again mobilize the airline’s Disaster Response Initiative, overlapping an ongoing extended airlift of donations for victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Dumaguete.
The PAL Foundation will accept donations from non-profit organizations until March 15, 2012 (marking the airline’s 71st founding anniversary) for immediate loading by PAL Cargo on all regular flights to the four key cities in the Visayas hardest hit by the tremor – Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Cebu.
PAL Foundation Executive Director Ma. Carmen Sarmiento said an initial batch of tents are to be sent by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
As with the airline’s previous Disaster Response Initiative, PAL will prioritize loading non-bulky, lightweight relief goods such as water purifying supplies and equipment, ready-to-eat food, clothing and medicines. PAL will only accept goods from shippers with counter-part NGOs at point of destination who will receive the donation.
PAL uses the twin-engine A320 aircraft, with a seven-ton-cargo capacity, to Iloilo, Bacolod and Dumaguete, while the wide-body jets – Airbus A330, with 22-ton-cargo capacity; A340, 23-ton-cargo; and B747, 24-ton-cargo – flies nine times daily to Cebu.
