For Immediate Release
August 13, 2012
Contact: Chera Amlag-BAYAN USA Finance officer: finance@bayanusa.org
BAYAN USA Activates Nation-wide Relief Efforts: IN THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN
BAYAN USA is appealing to all concerned citizens to donate $5, $10, $20 or any other amount within your capacity to help with relief efforts. There are numerous calls to donate from around the globe, however many larger donation outlets are not transparent in where their funds actually go. The organizations in BAYAN USA work directly with BAYAN Philippines and BALSA to provide 100% of your donations to the communities it serves and will reach those areas not covered by media reaching the far barrios to provide food (more than one kilo of rice, dried fish, mongo, cooking oil, and more) and other basic needs. The grassroots organizing efforts of BAYAN and BALSA with the communities in the Philippines will ensure that all donations given are directly contributed to the areas that need immediate assistance.
This is an urgent call to please help the victims of massive flooding in the Philippines by making a donation to BALSA today: http://tinyurl.com/BALSAbayanihanrelief and by taking a minute to help forward this email to your all potential contributors! The only way to achieve complete relief of the massive flooding is to activate our bayanihan-community effort– and giving spirit as the Philippines has been hit once again with the worst flooding since 2009.
For the past week, rains due to the southwest monsoon (Habagat) after typhoon Gener (international name, Saola) left the country have caused massive flooding in different parts of Luzon, especially in Metro Manila where half of the city is submerged.
Source: Ted Aljibe/Agence France-Presse – Getty Images
At present, as the rains continue to pour, many have been stranded in their homes, while thousands are being relocated to various evacuation centers in their cities and municipalities. According to news reports, the rains have affected some 199,485 families (or about one million individuals based on an average of 5 per family) across 11 regions of the country. A total of 60 individuals have been reportedly killed due to the non-stop rains, flooding, and landslides. PAG-ASA, a local weather station is forecasting more rains in the next few days. This and the fact that the dams around Metro-Manila are spilling out water will worsen the flooding in days to come.
Source: Aaron Favila – Associated Press
The thousands of displaced families and communities in the Philippines need your support at this time, anything truly helps. Many thanks for your consideration!
With Gratitude & Appreciation,
BAYAN USA
For More information:
http://www.bayan.ph/site/
https://www.bayanusa.org/
See this video of BALSA at work during Typhoon Sendong Relief efforts just earlier this year.
Donate today to BALSA, the relief organization of BAYAN for more than a decade: http://tinyurl.com/BALSAbayanihanrelief
NEWS COVERAGE:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/244365/heavy-rains-paralyzeluzon-metro-manila
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Heavy-rains-submerge-Philippine-capital-killing-9-3766863.php