Ondoy victims move on through help from CEMEX Philippines

		More than a month after typhoon Ondoy displaced families and ravaged millions of pesos in infrastructure and agriculture, the process of rebuilding and restoring is still on-going. The private sector has been an important source of assistance during the rescue and evacuation of victims and remains an essential player in the rehabilitation stage. “We are thankful for the help of companies and individuals who selflessly gave their time and effort to help us get clothes and food immediately after Ondoy,” said Perla de Jesus of Sitio Buhanginan in Antipolo City, one of the areas heavily damaged by the typhoon.
		At the height of the typhoon, the local government of Antipolo City, together with leaders of various barangays and employee volunteers from CEMEX Philippines immediately provided hot meals to over a thousand displaced families who took refuge in two evacuation centers located near its Solid Cement plant. 110 volunteers and CEMEX employees assembled five hundred and sixty-eight relief packs containing rice, powdered milk, sugar, water, and canned goods, which were then distributed to the affected families.

The CEMEX Philippines Foundation also gathered a volunteer team of doctors and organized an emergency medical mission at the Solid Cement plant training room and Sitio Quarry to provide much-needed medical assistance to typhoon-afflicted families in Antipolo. Medical attention and free medicine were provided to about 230 families.

In addition, a CEMEX-wide typhoon Ondoy relief campaign raised a total of PhP3 million. Half of the amount was raised through contributions sent in from CEMEX business units across the globe. These funds can be tapped to help rehabilitate damaged infrastructure. The other PhP1.5 million meanwhile was matched by the CEMEX Philippines Foundation and may eventually be used by affected residents as microfinance loans for reconstruction.

“There is nothing more meaningful than the time and effort given to care for us at the time of our need,” said Romeo Magbanua of Sitio Quarry who waited on a doctor during the medical mission. “We would not have recovered as fast as we did if not for the help extended to us by our local leaders and CEMEX,” added Magbanua.

Since the relief operations started immediately after Typhoon Ondoy struck Metro Manila, CEMEX Philippines has assisted over 4,606 individuals.