MANILA, Philippines — To our valued readers and the general public:

On behalf of the Philippine Red Cross, the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation (Head Office and Branches) is now accepting cash or check donations for typhoon ‘Sendong’ victims. Check donations should be payable to the Philippine Red Cross. All donations will be duly receipted and acknowledged.

SM donated an additional P2 million on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, bringing its total donation to P10 million in cash and relief goods. SM also gives daily more than 10,000 bottled water to various evacuation centers for Cagayan de Oro (CDO) flood victims.

The mall in CDO, which was not affected by the floods, also gives shelter to some families. The mall space is open to serve the requirements of the city.

For its part, Globe Telecom immediately responded to the need for communication services of typhoon “Sendong” victims by setting up free calls or “libreng tawag” operations in heavily hit areas in Mindanao as well as opening its GCASH donate facility, accepting cash donations for its relief operations via text message.

Globe has set up Libreng Tawag Centers in various evacuation areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete, enabling evacuees to avail of free calls – five-minute local calls to all networks, and two minutes of international calls.

The Libreng Tawag Stations has been in operation since Sunday in the following areas – covered court of Barangay Macasandig, City Central School in Velez Street, West City Central School in Barangay Carmen in Cagayan De Oro City, and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology along Tibanga Hi-Way, and Iligan City National High School, and San Lorenzo Church in Hinaplanon in Iligan City, Batinguil Elementary School, Canduay Elementary School Dumaguete and Sibulan Municipal Market in Dumaguete City.

Globe has also opened its GCASH donate facility for its relief operations for victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

To help in the relief efforts, Globe subscribers can make donation by texting DONATE (space) AMOUNT (space) MPIN (space) SLB and sending it to 2882 for free.

Globe is conducting its relief efforts in partnership with Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB). As of Monday, Globe has already received donation amounting to P65,000 via the GCASH-SLB donation channel.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed a total of P7.83 million worth of relief assistance for those affected by tropical storm “Sendong” in Northern Mindanao.

As of December 20, some 58,316 families composed of 317,973 persons in 210 villages, seven cities, 22 municipalities, and eight provinces in five regions – Regions 7, 9, 10, 11, and Caraga – have been affected by “Sendong.”

Also, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has successfully raised P4 million in its fund-raising campaign for the victims of “Sendong,” particularly in Mindanao.

“This is just an initial figure. We are expecting more pledges and contribution from the regional offices and local governments,” said DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also extended assistance to assist the victims of flooding wrought by tropical storm “Sendong,” sending a 19-man contingent along with their equipment, including a two-ton water purifier.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the rescue team will spend their Christmas in Iligan, returning on December 28.

“These personnel are experienced. They were also at Calumpit and Hagonoy after typhoons ‘Quiel’ and ‘Pedring,’” said Tolentino.

“One of the most urgent needs of the distressed areas is clean, potable water. We will address that need,” he added.

Likewise, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay has urged the local and national governments to combine their resources for the speedy and full restoration of the areas damaged by the calamity.

Joining the massive support to victims of the disaster, the Makati city government has allotted a total of P4 million for the distribution of relief goods to flood victims in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, and Iligan.

In a related development, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has instructed its government transportation agencies to assist in the quickest movement of relief goods to Northern Mindanao through air, sea and land transport.

DoTC Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II instructed heads of the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Civil Aviation Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to devise a game plan to use all available vehicles and aircraft to deliver relief goods and other supplies to victims of typhoon “Sendong.”

Migrante Middle-East (M-ME), a Filipino migrants’ group based in Saudi Arabia, has also urged Filipino communities in the Middle East to collect donations in cash or in kind for compatriots back home who were severely affected by typhoon “Sendong.”

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is set to mount a holistic medical mission to residents of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete who were affected by “Sendong” through its “Oplan Doc Santa” set on December 25.

The office of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr., who hails from Cagayan de Oro City is sending 40,000 water purification tablets to help communities displaced by the flash floods access to clean water. (With reports from Ellalyn B. de Vera, Czarina Nicole O. Ong, Anna Liza T. Villas, Ellson A Quismorio, Jenny F. Manongdo, Ed Mahilum, Marvyn N. Benaning, Hannah L. Torrrgoza, Raymund F. Antonio, Ben R. Rosario, Leonard D. Postrado, Edd K. Usman, Rolly T. Carandang, and Kris Bayos)