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Tropical Storm Sendong, known internationally as Washi, hit the east coast of Mindanao early on Friday, December 16 bringing 10 hours of torrential rain that triggered flash flooding on the island. Hundreds of people were killed during the first night as floodwaters and landslides destroyed homes along mountainsides. Flooding was especially heavy in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City.
As of press time, 1257 people are reported dead and 4,619 injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The flooding has directly affected 720,860 people and damaged 42,341 homes.
As the death toll climbed and damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and school buildings approached one billion pesos on December 21, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo confirmed that PAGASA will remove Sendong from its naming list for tropical cyclones.
Meanwhile in Winnipeg, MLA Ted Marcelino said, “This tragedy is both natural and man-made. It is my sincere hope that there will be lessons learned from this storm so that lives will not be lost in the future.” Regarding the local relief campaign, Marcelino added, “We have the opportunity to make a difference. I encourage everyone to donate to relief drives such as this or their own.”
How to help
All donations to Winnipeg’s Typhoon Sendong Relief Task Force will be forwarded to flood victims through the NCCP. Cheques are payable to Broadway Disciples United Church” (BDUC) with the memo, “Philippine flood relief”. Donors who give $10 or more are eligible to receive a charitable tax receipt from the BDUC.
According to Diwa Marcelino of Damayan Manitoba, no administrative costs will be deducted from donations, allowing 100% of the funds to go directly to relief operations.
Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
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Tyndall Park Constituency Office, 360 Keewatin St, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3C1
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Logan Constituency Office, 849 Notre Dame Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0M4
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Broadway Disciples United Church, 396 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V6
For more information contact:
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Damayan Manitoba (Diwa Marcelino), 204-218-7100
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Broadway Disciples United Church (Rev. Dr. Raymond Cuthbert) 204-943-2658
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Manitoba Association of Filipino-Canadian Teachers (Gemma Dalayoan, President) 204-697-1934
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Filipino Domestic Workers’ Association of Manitoba (Gloria Magpali, President) 204-295-1104
Donations will be collected until 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 16.
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