By PR | 04:37 PM December 31, 2021
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has dispatched teams for another set of rapid assessment in the Province of Bohol as it prepares for its massive emergency relief distribution in the province.
Teams were sent on December 29, to the municipalities of Bien Unido, Alicia, and Mabini to identify the extent of damage left in the wake of Super Typhoon Odette (International: Rai). The team will also assess the municipality of San Miguel. RAFI will complete its rapid assessment in the Province of Bohol by tomorrow, December 30.
While rapid assessment winds down in Bohol Province, the team will begin its first wave of emergency relief packs distribution. It is set to distribute 3,500 emergency relief packs tomorrow in the municipalities of Ginatilan and Alegria. RAFI targets to complete distribution of 7,620 emergency relief packs by December 31, 2021, providing timely emergency relief to in-need families heavily hit by Super Typhoon Odette.
As destruction and impact of Super Typhoon Odette remains massive across Bohol, RAFI is the first organization to provide timely relief and assistance in the province.
Meanwhile, RAFI completed its rapid assessment of Caohagan Island in Lapu-Lapu City. As the year winds down, RAFI continues with its distribution efforts in towns across Cebu Province.
Distribution teams are currently in the municipalities of Ronda, Alcantara, Badian, Ginatilan, and Alegria.
To date, it has distributed 23,634 relief packs to families. Distribution has been completed in the following sites:
Cebu
Danao City
Municipality of Malabuyoc
Municipality of Ronda
Municipality of Alcantara
Municipality of Badian
Municipality of Ginatilan
Bohol
Municipality of Ubay
Municipality of Jetafe
Municipality of Talibon
Municipality of Tubigon
RAFI is set to distribute a total of 132,00 relief packs across the provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Additional relief packs and support will be added as more data continues to come in from RAFI’s Rapid Assessment teams.
RAFI likewise met with the Mayor of the Municipality of Cordova Mary Therese S. Cho and Mayor of Lapu-lapu City Ahong Chan to conduct a needs assessment for their respective LGU. RAFI expressed its commitment to provide timely relief and support to affected communities in Cordova.
As emergency relief remains to be a priority for affected families, RAFI continues with its efforts in sending out timely relief to hard-hit areas. Today, volunteers in Cebu have packed 6,605 relief packs. As more volunteers continue to help in repacking efforts, a total of 84 volunteers helped today.
More volunteers are needed to help provide timely relief across Cebu and Bohol. Repacking of emergency relief packs will run until December 30, 2021 and resume on January 2, 2022.
Repacking is currently ongoing, daily, at the Kabilin Center right across the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. Main Office in Eduardo Aboitiz Street, Barangay Tinago, Cebu City. Meals will be provided, volunteers need to bring water, their vaccination card, and an extra t-shirt. Interested volunteers may sign up at https://bit.ly/33LhmLP.
The foundation has laid out a 3-phase humanitarian relief operation in response to the massive destruction left in the wake of Typhoon Odette.
Phase 1 includes distribution of emergency relief packs to families heavily affected by the typhoon. RAFI is set to distribute a total of 132,00 relief packs across the provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Upon completion of distribution of relief packs, RAFI will provide psychosocial support for children and emergency shelter to affected indigent families. Building materials and tools will be provided to families for them to rebuild their damaged houses.
Phases 2 and 3 include recovery and rehabilitation efforts. RAFI’s efforts continue to expand as more information and data comes in.
RAFI will also distribute water and generators to help address the growing need for water and power. The foundation will distribute 400,000 liters of water for 20,000 families located in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City. Fifty (50) generator sets will be distributed within Cebu.
Food, water, shelter, and fuel remain scarce and inaccessible for thousands of families affected by Typhoon Odette. RAFI is accepting financial donations from individuals and groups who wish to help. For in-kind donations, the organization is accepting donations of the following items most in need at the moment:
Water
Water filters
Generator sets
Fuel (Cebu Only)
Powerbanks
In-kind donations made in Cebu may be dropped off at the Main Office of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation. Donors in Metro Manila may likewise drop off their donations at the Headquarters of the Civil Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army, Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. For inquiries about Metro Manila drop-off, please contact Olaf Miguel Bautista at 09175482888.
As of December 29, 2021, the foundation has raised Php. 23,294,047 in cash and pledges from individual donors and organizations. It has spent Php. 42,930,667 for its emergency relief operations, to date. RAFI’s counterpart spending is at Php. 19,636,620. The foundation thanks its numerous donors and partners for all the help they have been extending.
The Foundation continues to coordinate with the local government units, government agencies, and other private organizations to identify better interventions to response to the needs of the vulnerable sector.
RAFI is open for partnerships. Its Donation Hub is OPEN for donations and support from local and international organizations, as well as from individual donors. Donations will be used for the provision of immediate relief of affected families and communities.
Interested partners can contact RAFI through their email address eoc@rafi.ph or through the following numbers (032) 265-5914 (landline), 0917-633-2936 (Globe), and 0933-879-2966 (Sun).
