(Updated 9:19 a.m.) Several groups, non-government organizations and volunteers launched donation drives and relief operations online following the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Agaton” (international name: Megi) in the country.
Agaton, the first tropical cyclone in 2022, brought heavy rainfall to Eastern Samar, Leyte, Surigao del Norte and several other provinces over the weekend.
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According to PAGASA’s latest weather bulletin, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over the following areas in Visayas and Mindanao:
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Northern Samar
- Biliran, Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Camotes Island
- Dinagat Islands
Several Filipinos turn to bayanihan to help the affected communities, particularly in Baybay City in Leyte and Capiz. They posted photos of trapped residents and flooded areas to help seek immediate rescue.
Others posted donation drives on Twitter and Facebook via hashtags #BayBayNeedsHelp and #CapizNeedsHelp.
Some of the graphics they shared came from the following youth groups and volunteers.
College of Education Supreme Student Council of the Visayas State University called for donations both in-kind and cash on Facebook on Monday.
“Rest assured that all proceeds will be directed to our fellow Viscans affected by the typhoon,” the organization said on its post.
VSU’s official student publication called Amaranth also launched its own donation drive called “Tinabangay Kita.”
All donations will be sent to affected municipalities in Leyte.
The Rotaract Club of Tacloban, a youth group sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tacloban, formed a collaboration with several other volunteer organizations in Visayas to launch a massive emergency relief operation called #AgatOne.
For transparency, they asked those who wish to donate to fill out a form first before coursing their donations.
Then, they also asked for proof of donation to be sent through their Facebook page.
A travel blog called “Discover Baybay City” also sought donations both in-kind and monetary from its 109,000 followers on Facebook.
Details of the relief items and donation channels are provided in their post.
“We’ll post all transactions here for transparency,” the post reads.
Volunteer groups called Robredo People’s Council-Leyte and Capiz for Leni joined in solidarity to help Agaton’s victims in Leyte and Capiz.
As their names suggest, the group supports the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan in the elections this May.
They posted their initiatives to seek financial aid and relief goods from their followers on Facebook.
Some volunteers are also calling for donations for relief packs that will be sent to 2,351 families displaced in Ajuy, Iloilo.
According to these volunteers, at least six barangays in Ajuy remain inaccessible due to high floodwaters, leaving hundreds of families stranded in the rain with no food or water since Monday afternoon.
In view of this, they said that goods donated will be donated and procured using cash donations. These will be repacked into relief bags containing five canned sardines, five packs of noodles, and two kilos of rice. One relief pack will be given to each household.
Those interested to donate may send help in-kind or monetary through these channels:
Based on reports, citing data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), more than 45,500 people are affected by Agaton in Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC also estimated about P874,000 worth of damage to agriculture in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).