Tzu Chi Foundation to hold rice distribution to 9000 families of typhoon victims

Tzu Chi Foundation will hold this week a two-day rice relief activity for about 9,000 Cagayan de Oro and Iligan families who were affected by flooding caused by Typhoon Washi last December 16.

The rice distribution will be done separately at Kong Hua School in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan National High School in Iligan on December 28 and 29, respectively. 5,000 families from Cagayan de Oro and 4,000 families from Iligan will be benefited from Tzu Chi Foundation's relief mission.

The 9,000 sacks of rice – each sack contains 20 kilos of rice -- will be shipped to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan through the help of Sulpicio Lines. The rice was donated to Tzu Chi Philippines by Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency for the needy in Philippine.

Last December 22, Tzu Chi volunteers from Manila gave out to the typhoon victims relief items that included thermal blankets, used clothes, and casseroles.Teachers and students of Kong Hua School, businessmen, and other private individuals took part in the relief mission that benefited about 1,000 families.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy helped in the transportation of the relief supplies gathered by Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines and other charitable institutions intended for the victims of Typhoon Washi in Cagayan De Oro. The Philippine Airlines and ZestAir, on the other hand, also aided the Buddhist organization in airlifting its relief items for the flood victims.

Tzu Chi volunteers led by Jimmy Chua earlier conducted a survey on Barangay Macasandig, in Cagayan de Oro and other areas pounded by the typhoon.

Tzu Chi volunteers, during the survey, coordinated with officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine National Red Cross so that they could assess how could they help the flood survivors. They also visited various evacuation centers in three barangays in Iligan.