PAL extends to Feb. 15 free shipment of donations for Sendong victims

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has extended until February 15 the free shipment of donations, especially from abroad, for the victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in Cagayan de Oro and Dumaguete.   PAL Foundation executive director Menchu Sarmiento on Monday said: “While others may have shifted their attention elsewhere, PAL remains committed and focused in assisting the typhoon victims by providing the fastest transport of goods critically needed in devastated areas." The PAL Disaster Response Initiative for Sendong victims was supposed to have ended on January 31. However, PAL President Jaime Bautista instructed PAL Cargo to fly donated goods from non-profit organizations until February 15.   PAL Cargo will continue to load , as instructed by  who extended the PAL Disaster Response Initiative after it lapsed January 31. Relief goods Sarmiento said PAL Cargo has been ferrying 16 to 18 tons of relief goods daily — mostly food, water, clothing, and medicines for Cagayan de Oro City victims. Some of the goods ferried by PAL included:

• 2,000 body bags from Taiwan had been airlifted,
• four pallets of water treatment supplies and equipment from Vancouver, and
• half a ton of oral rehydration salts from San Francisco, USA.

  PAL has been using wide-bodied aircraft in the domestic sector, enabling it to carry up to 20 tons in its belly. - B. L. Vergara, VVP, GMA News