How to Help Typhoon Frank Victims

MANILA, Philippines -- Donations to the Philippine National Red Cross to augment its relief and rehabilitation efforts can be made in person, by delivery, through banks and credit cards, online, and via text messages.

Senator Richard Gordon, PNRC chairman said, the most urgent needs of typhoon "Frank" (international codename) victims were: food items like rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans, and potable water;

Medicines like paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins, and medications to treat diarrheal diseases;

Non-food items like bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and laundry soap; and for its rehabilitation programs, shelter materials for house repair.

Gordon listed the ways the Red Cross would accept donations:

Cash or check donations, which are the preferred donations of the
PNRC, can be sent to the national headquarters of the Philippine
National Red Cross in Manila. "We could also arrange for donation
pick-up," he said.

Bank deposits can be made at the following accounts of Philippine
National Red Cross:

• Metrobank, Port Area Branch
Peso account number: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar account number: 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

• Bank of the Philippine Islands, Port Area Branch
Peso account number: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: Current

• Bank of the Philippine Islands, UN Branch
Dollar account number: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

To properly acknowledge donations through banks, donors are advised "to fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number," Gordon said.

Those who want to donate using their credit card are advised to fax to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575 the following information: Name of card member, billing address, contact numbers (phone and mobile), credit card number, expiration date, CCV2/CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

Online donations may also be made at
http://www.redcross.org.ph the PNRC website.

For SMS or text donations, just text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (for Globe) or 4483 (Smart);
For G-cash, text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882.

Local in-kind donations could also be sent to the PNRC national headquarters in Manila or donation pickups may be arranged.

For international in-kind, the following are required:
1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original
Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway
Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The
Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary
General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.

Gordon said the PNRC would not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. "Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around," he said.

For questions, Gordon also gave out the PNRC hotline 143 or 527.0000.

Red Cross information, contact nos. for 'Frank' donations
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:20:00 06/25/2008