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Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby)
[Update as of 5:50 PM, December 10, 2014]


Latest Relief Photos/Updates
How You Can Help


Sharing with you the commitment of Team GK to bring food packs to those in need. Cheers to our bayanis led by Kevin Caballero and Toby Florendo who are overseeing relief operations. Mabuhay kayo! Keep safe.


Thank you USTMAA ,GK USA, our partners from Cebu, online donors and friends for responding quickly. We will be pushing 5000 food packs in the next 2 days. Each food pack can fill the stomach and certainly lift the spirit! Walang iwanan!





Dec 8, 2014 (12:20 PM)

Dear Friends,

Typhoon Ruby has just been "downgraded to tropical storm" with a much smaller radius. This is indeed good news!

What does this mean for our relief operations?


1. Our teams are doing the sweep in all the areas where Ruby hit with its might to assess how we can be of help. We are focusing our efforts in: Samar, portion of Leyte, Bantayan Island, Northern Cebu and Bicol/Sorsogon.

2. Specific tasks for December 8:
- We will be pushing relief goods today in portions of Leyte area in GK sites that became evacuation centers.
- As our teams assess Samar, Bicol and Cebu, we will fine tune our plans for December 9.


""Our GK communities in Tacloban and Alang-alang, Leyte. The homes you painted stand strong. It housed many evacuees."
- Jedee, GK Volunteer, Leyte


3. While Ruby was downgraded, there is still the need to distribute relief goods because the families will have to organize their lives in the next few days. For fishermen, they will not be fishing in the next couple of days, for farmers and those working, they may not be reporting for work or harvesting, hence the need to continue our relief efforts.



"Now happening: Kusina ng Kalinga operations for #RubyPH evacuees. 1,500 hot meals distributed to the residents and evacuees in Pago (Tanauan), San Roque (Alang-Alang), Palanog and Cabalawan (Tacloban)."
- Chrisjohn Nased, GK Worker, Leyte



4. Prayers were answered! Everyone prepared well! Government in all levels were definitely better prepared. Potential victims heeded the call to move to safer grounds. Volunteers bravely mobilized to be first responders. Concerned groups and individuals shared resources. Today, December 7 or as soon as weather permits, our team from Tacloban will be going to Borongan to do recon/assessment in Samar. 



The way forward for Operation Walang Iwanan is to maintain our intensity even if tropical storm Ruby weakens. We will not stop doing relief until we have clear skies. Simply, let us continue raising resources and we will continue to distribute relief packs to those who need them most.

The next 48 hours will still critical and we count on your support!




Praying hard, preparing well,


Luis Oquiñena
Executive Director
Gawad Kalinga




How You Can Help



We are initially raising 20,000 food packs (P200 per pack) for relief operations. You may donate through the following channels:


ONLINE VIA CREDIT CARD (Currency: Philippine Peso)


NOTE:
When giving online, please note that the currency is in Philippine Peso (PHP). If you live overseas, kindly make sure you convert the amount to PHP. Thank you!



VIA BANK DEPOSIT

·      Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account # 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills

·      Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account # 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills

  (Swift code: BOPIPHMM)


NOTE: When giving via bank deposit, please scan the deposit slip or take note of the transaction number and email to partnerships@gawadkalinga.com with the following details:

          •    Name of Donor

          •    Date of Deposit, Amount, BPI Branch

         •    Indicate that it's for Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Hagupit


Deposits that are unconfirmed or unidentified for more than one month will be given to the ongoing campaign or to the community where it is needed the most.




Other Updates

We have activated our GK SOS service, a 24/7 community feedback and referral service that allows people to report the situation in their area and communicate their needs via SMS. This is consolidated by our HQ team for response by either our own local teams or referred to appropriate groups and/or agencies who may be able to provide support. We are still in direct contact with all local teams (except for Borongan) since we were able to get support for handheld units that are satellite connected.




Previous Efforts on Disaster Relief and Rebuilding

Every time disasters occur, Gawad Kalinga volunteers and partners respond heroically by sharing resources, organizing relief drives, helping network to others, and even taking part in reconstruction efforts. Read about GK’s most recent disaster response efforts here:
 
•    Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda (November 2013)
•    Bohol Earthquake (October 2013)
•    Typhoon Trami/Maring (August 2013)
•    Typhoon Bopha/Pablo (December 2012)
•   
Habagat (August 2012)
•    Typhoon Washi/Sendong (December 2011)