Thousands of typhoon Yolanda victims to get relief goods from Philippine gaming industry
Monday | November 18, 2013 | 2:30 PM
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES in the Visayas who were devastated by typhoon Yolanda will get relief from the Philippine gaming industry as its key players joined hands in extending them immediate assistance.
(From extreme left) PAGCOR Asst. VP Henry Reyes, Donato Almeda (Board Director of Solaire), Stephen Riley (COO of Travellers), Kingson Sian (President of Travellers), PAGCOR VP Francis Hernando and PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr. at the repacking site of “Isa Tayo, Itayo Ang Bayan” Relief Operations.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Bloomberry (operator of Solaire Resort and Casino) and Travellers International (operator of Resorts World Manila) are jointly conducting relief operations for the typhoon victims in Visayas. The project is dubbed “Isa tayo, Itayo ang ating Bayan” Relief Operations.
Thousands of employees of the three (3) companies volunteered to repack at least 50,000 relief goods now being held at the basement of Mariott Hotel in Pasay City. The repacking of the goods is being done round-the-clock in shifts. Each pack includes basic necessities like rice, canned goods, toiletries, t-shirts and slippers. The relief items are put in a plastic pail so that the recipients can still use them after consuming the goods. Apart from these items, thousands of bottled water are also included as part of the relief package. It will take twenty (20) 20-wheeler wing trucks to load the thousands of relief items that will be delivered to the Visayas.
Employees of PAGCOR, Travellers International (operator of Resorts World Manila) and Bloomberry (operator of Solaire Resort and Casino) form a human chain in passing the packs of relief goods contained in plastic pails for delivery to typhoon Yolanda victims in Eastern Samar.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr. said the project is a concerted effort of the gaming industry. “We are doing this on our own. The three companies have a role to play in the relief operations. PAGCOR heads the steering committee that oversees the conduct of relief operations. Travellers is handling the procurement of the relief items. Meantime, Bloomberry will take care of the transportation and distribution of goods to heavily affected municipalities in Eastern Samar. These include Lauauan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinaundan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan,” Naguiat cited.
The 50,000 relief packs are expected to arrive to the intended beneficiaries by Tuesday or Wednesday this week. “We are doing our best to facilitate everything. Representatives of PAGCOR, Travellers and Bloomberry will be joining the relief efforts,” Naguiat said.
Naguiat added that apart from the relief operations, PAGCOR, Travellers and Bloomberry are also planning to help in the rehabilitation of public schools in severely affected areas in the Visayas. “We want to come in where our help is needed most. A lot has to be done to help in the recovery of Tacloban, Leyte and other areas in Samar. Since PAGCOR’s main advocacy is to help uplift the quality of education in the country, we, together with Travellers and Bloomberry, will extend help in rebuilding the schools in these areas,” Naguiat noted.
Thousands of relief packs containing basic necessities like rice, canned goods, toiletries, t-shirts and slippers are currently being repacked by employees of PAGCOR, Travellers and Bloomberry at the basement of Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. The relief goods will be delivered to typhoon Yolanda victims in heavily devastated municipalities in Eastern Samar.
Such partnerships, according to Naguiat, show how the private and public sectors can harmoniously work together not only in moving the country forward but also in bringing hope to the needy.
“This goes to show that in trying times like these, even competitors can unite and work together for the benefit of many. Sa panahon ng kagipitan, ang buong gaming industry ay nagkaka-isa sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayang nasalanta. It is only by cooperating and uniting that our country can rise from such a devastating tragedy,” Naguiat added.
At least 50,000 pails of relief goods were prepared by employees of PAGCOR, Travellers (operator of Resorts World Manila) and Bloomberry (operator of Solaire Resort and Casino) to be sent to thousands of families in Eastern Samar who were severely devastated by typhoon Yolanda.
Workers of PAGCOR, Travellers (operator of Resorts World Manila) and Bloomberry (operator of Solaire Resort and Casino) load the relief goods contained in plastic pails for delivery to thousands of families in the Visayas who were heavily affected by typhoon Yolanda. The 50,000 relief packs are being loaded in twenty (20) 20-wheeler wing trucks.
Kingson Sian, President of Travellers International, said a lot of the victims are starving. “That is why we want to provide them immediate relief na makaka-tulong sa kanila, makakain sila. Also beyond that is to really give them a hope na there are a lot of people who care for them. Itong relief effort diretso nating dadalhin sa kanila. We will be sending some of our employees also to bring the goods to different parts that were devastated by the typhoon,” Sian cited.
Meantime, Bloomberry Board Director Donato Almeda said the Philippine gaming industry is one in carrying out the project “Kaya nga ang tawag natin sa proyektong ito ay “Isa Tayo”. We made a call for everybody to pull together, para matulungan natin yung mga victims ng bagyo. The most important thing that we have to do now is to cross the hunger stage of our fellow kababayans in Leyte and Samar. Sabi nga ni Chairman Naguiat, ang next stage sa industry namin is to rebuild the public schools particularly sa Leyte and Samar. Ito yung mga nasa important timeline na kailangang marating kaagad,” Almeda added.