Last
November 26, as response to damages brought about by Typhoon Lando, PLDT turned
over SPHERE-standard food packs with vegetable seeds to at least 100 farming
families of Brgy. Cawayan, Real, Quezon. On the other hand, 10 families whose
houses were heavily-damaged were given shelter repair kits as early recovery
assistance by Country Bankers.
Each
pack contains the following items: 10 kilos of rice, 3 cans of sardines, ½ kg
of monggo beans, 3 cans of canned meat, 1 pint cooking oil, 1 kg of sugar, ¼ kg
of iodized salt and 1 bar of soap. Seeds of vegetables squash, ampalaya and eggplant were also provided
as additional items.
At
least 400 units of used cable boxes were also turned over and can be used as
multi-purpose containers for the farmers.
Country
Bankers’ donation of shelter kits consisted of basic housing materials
amounting to P10,000 plus P2,000 cash to support their labor requirements.
In
Real, particularly in Barangay Cawayan where Samahan ng Mangingisda at Magbubukid
ng Barangay Cawayan (SMMBC), one of the four PLDT-assisted people’s
organization in southern Quezon is located, significant damage was recorded in
their agricultural crops wherein 90% or 22 hectares of their harvestable rice
lands, 2 hectares of planted vegetables and 3,000 planted bananas are all
destroyed. While there is no casualty reported in the areas and less of houses
were completely damaged, the main concern is the effect of said typhoon to the farmers
with the above-mentioned destruction to their main source of livelihood.
PLDT has recently completed its 5-year reforestation
program in the area. PLDT, through its partner Philippine Business for Social
Progress, continues to monitor the area and assists the farmers groups sustain
PLDT’s program.
Present
during the distribution were PLDT employees led by PLDT Community Relations
Head Ms Evelyn del Rosario and PLDT Lucena Manager Mr Rex Osio. Country Bankers
employees were also represented in the event.
