South Cotabato- based multinational company Dole Philippines, Inc (Dolefil) conducted relief operations for Yolanda survivors in Panay Island last December 2, 2014.
More than 50 volunteers which are mostly employees of Dolefil and its partners traveled all the way from Polomolok last November 29, 2013 to different places in Panay Island. With them were thousands of relief packs transported by four (4) units 40-ft winged vans and were distributed to over 2,800 families in the municipalities of Culasi and Tibiao in Antique, and the town of Sigma in Capiz.
Hon. Chris Andaya, Mayor of the Municipality of Sigma thanked Dolefil and its volunteers for bringing to their town the Dolefil Caravan of Hope. He was most thankful for the relief packages that were distributed to his people.
"It's the first time na yung binagay na goods dito sa amin is a complete package, with shelter, food and blankets. So far, ito ang pinakamalaking naibigay per family dito and we feel that we're blessed na kami ang napili ng Dole, (This is the first time that we were given a complete package, with shelter, food and blankets. So far, this is the biggest help that the families here have received and we feel that we’re blessed to be chosen by Dole)" he said.
The Dolefil Caravan of Hope relief packs distributed in Panay is a complete package, each pack contains clothes, underwear, tarpaulin sheets (trapal), ropes, cooking pots, sleeping materials, mosquito nets, survival and hygiene kits on top of the food package which includes rice, canned goods, salt, sugar, coffee, milk and several cans of Dolefil products. A team of physicians from South Cotabato was also there and conducted a medical mission to address the health needs of the survivors.
Teary-eyed beneficiaries say endless "madamo gid nga salamat" ("thank you so much" in their dialect) to the Caravan of Hope team upon receiving their early Christmas gifts.
"Madamo gid nga salamat sa tanan nga nagbulig sa amon sa sini na kalamidad. Dako ni nga bulig sa amon kay subong daghan sa among gamit nangaguba, (Thank you so much to all those who helped us during this calamity. This is a big help to us since our properties have been damaged)" a Yolanda survivor, a mother with five kids, added.
"We chose to provide relief to Antique and Capiz because other provinces have been receiving help from other institutions whereas these areas still need a lot of aid," Atty. Melquiades L. Hernandez III, Corporate Affairs Division Director of Dolefil explained. Based on the report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) on Typhoon Yolanda, the cost of damage Region VI (including Antique and Capiz) is estimated at P3 billion, with over 572,328 families affected.
“Dolefil is very thankful for all those who have contributed to the Caravan of Hope, to all the employees who donated, to our friends and business partners. We wouldn’t be able to go a long way without everyone’s support,” Dolefil VP and Managing Director Simon Denye stated.
The Dolefil Caravan of Hope is a "bayanihan" project initiated by Dolefil with its partner, Mahintana Foundation, Inc., along with its three unions, LEAD, LEAD.PH and LEAD-Calumpang, and APASI/Nordson, GAME Equipment, Combustion Retrofitting, Pave Consumer Ltd., MG Marketing Imports, Control Union Philippines, DARBC, UEMSMPC, SRC, FARB, TIBUD, CAMPCO, PMSC, MMHCFI, DECCO, LR Specialists Builders, 2GO, NFI, Twin Circa, SLSPI, PNHS, BSNHS, CSP, LPMPC, AMCOOP, MMCS, Digital Detours and CV Travel & Tours, and in coordination with i-CODE, PhilDHRRA, PROCESS-Panay and SDFI.
Atty. Mel Hernandez shares a smile with the Yolanda survivors who were very thankful of the help they received. |
Hon. Chris Andaya, Mayor of the Municipality of Sigma thanked Dolefil and its volunteers for bringing to their town the Dolefil Caravan of Hope. He was most thankful for the relief packages that were distributed to his people.
"It's the first time na yung binagay na goods dito sa amin is a complete package, with shelter, food and blankets. So far, ito ang pinakamalaking naibigay per family dito and we feel that we're blessed na kami ang napili ng Dole, (This is the first time that we were given a complete package, with shelter, food and blankets. So far, this is the biggest help that the families here have received and we feel that we’re blessed to be chosen by Dole)" he said.
The Dolefil Caravan of Hope relief packs distributed in Panay is a complete package, each pack contains clothes, underwear, tarpaulin sheets (trapal), ropes, cooking pots, sleeping materials, mosquito nets, survival and hygiene kits on top of the food package which includes rice, canned goods, salt, sugar, coffee, milk and several cans of Dolefil products. A team of physicians from South Cotabato was also there and conducted a medical mission to address the health needs of the survivors.
Beneficiaries were ecstatic as they leave the distribution area in batch via tricycles loaded with their relief packages. |
"Madamo gid nga salamat sa tanan nga nagbulig sa amon sa sini na kalamidad. Dako ni nga bulig sa amon kay subong daghan sa among gamit nangaguba, (Thank you so much to all those who helped us during this calamity. This is a big help to us since our properties have been damaged)" a Yolanda survivor, a mother with five kids, added.
"We chose to provide relief to Antique and Capiz because other provinces have been receiving help from other institutions whereas these areas still need a lot of aid," Atty. Melquiades L. Hernandez III, Corporate Affairs Division Director of Dolefil explained. Based on the report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) on Typhoon Yolanda, the cost of damage Region VI (including Antique and Capiz) is estimated at P3 billion, with over 572,328 families affected.
“Dolefil is very thankful for all those who have contributed to the Caravan of Hope, to all the employees who donated, to our friends and business partners. We wouldn’t be able to go a long way without everyone’s support,” Dolefil VP and Managing Director Simon Denye stated.
The Dolefil Caravan of Hope is a "bayanihan" project initiated by Dolefil with its partner, Mahintana Foundation, Inc., along with its three unions, LEAD, LEAD.PH and LEAD-Calumpang, and APASI/Nordson, GAME Equipment, Combustion Retrofitting, Pave Consumer Ltd., MG Marketing Imports, Control Union Philippines, DARBC, UEMSMPC, SRC, FARB, TIBUD, CAMPCO, PMSC, MMHCFI, DECCO, LR Specialists Builders, 2GO, NFI, Twin Circa, SLSPI, PNHS, BSNHS, CSP, LPMPC, AMCOOP, MMCS, Digital Detours and CV Travel & Tours, and in coordination with i-CODE, PhilDHRRA, PROCESS-Panay and SDFI.