GMA Kapuso Foundation to share relief goods to 5k families hit by Mindanao earthquake

GMA Kapuso Foundation is expected to distribute relief goods to about 5,000 families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit off the coast of Sarangani in Mindanao.

“Gusto lang namin i-inform kayo na ongoing na ang repacking ng Kapuso Foundation of relief goods. Kumpleto na lahat ng ipamimigay natin. Nandiyan tayo sa GMA GenSan mismo,” said GMA Kapuso Foundation EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog in Super Radyo dzBB.

(We just want to inform you that the Kapuso Foundation's repacking of relief goods is already ongoing. Everything we are going to distribute is complete. We are right there at GMA General Santos City.)

“We are slated to distribute relief goods to about 5,000 families. Magsisimula na tayo ngayong gabi sa pag-disburse ng relief goods. Tuloy-tuloy tayo hanggang sa maubos, that’s our first wave,” she added.

(We are slated to distribute relief goods to about 5,000 families. We will start disbursing the relief goods tonight. We will keep going continuously until everything is distributed—that’s our first wave.)

There are so far 37 fatalities reported from the earthquake, with 488 injured and four individuals still missing. Meanwhile, there are 8,725 families or 31,700 individuals in 54 evacuation centers, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

The foundation is encouraging monetary donations as transportation of goods from Manila to Mindanao is not feasible as the General Santos City Airport remains closed.

“Bakit ko ine-encourage ang monetary donations? Mahirap magpadala ng relief goods from Manila to Mindanao kasi ang problema natin diyan ay transport. Right now, ang General Santos City Airport is still closed…So lahat tayo nanggagaling sa Davao City,” said Escudero-Catibog, noting that travel from Davao City to General Santos City by land takes four to five hours.

(Why am I encouraging monetary donations? It is difficult to send relief goods from Manila to Mindanao because our problem there is transportation. Right now, the General Santos City Airport is still closed... So all of us are coming from Davao City.)

“Ine-encourage ko na monetary donations kasi what GMA Kapuso Foundation does is may mga suppliers kami and we can get it at much more affordable prices, in bulk, na ide-deliver na diretso doon.”

(I am encouraging monetary donations because what GMA Kapuso Foundation does is work with local suppliers where we can get items in bulk at much more affordable prices, which will then be delivered straight there.)

Donations to GMA Kapuso Foundation may be sent through Metrobank, Land Bank, BDO, Bank of Commerce, UnionBank, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Lazada, and Shopee.

The foundation noted that they are racing against time to distribute aid to families affected in General Santos City.

“Ang nangyayari naman nawawalan ng supply ng pagkain at tubig at inumin ang mga katauhan diyan sa GenSan. Kaya nagmamadali ang Kapuso Foundation…Nagmamadali kaming mag-repack kasi gusto namin i-out talaga,” said Escudero-Catibog.

(What is happening now is that the people in GenSan are running out of food, water, and drinking supplies. That is why the Kapuso Foundation is rushing... We are rushing the repacking because we really want to get the aid out.)

While the GMA Kapuso Foundation is encouraging monetary donations, in-kind donations are also welcomed provided that food items should not be nearing expiry.

“Donations in kind are always welcome. Just remember kailangan hindi mage-expire yung mga ido-donate na delata at bigas,” she added.

(Donations in kind are always welcome. Just remember that the canned goods and rice to be donated must not be nearing their expiration dates.)

The foundation will accept in-kind donations until Saturday at its office located at 2nd Floor GMA Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive cor. Samar Street, Diliman, Quezon City. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. —RF, GMA News