Hope Fund

Typhoon Ondoy (codename: Ketsana) struck the Philippines on September 26, 2009. In less than 24 hours, it dumped 455 ml of rain (almost a month equivalent of rains) in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna and Quezon. Torrential rain over the weekend triggered the worst flooding the Philippines’ capital has seen in over four decades, which engulfed around 80% of the entire Metro Manila in murky floodwaters, rising as high as 20 feet in some areas and leaving people stranded in their rooftops, or fleeing to higher grounds with only their shirt on their backs. On October 2, 288 fatalities were reported, 3.2 million people affected, more than 6 billion pesos in infrastructure and property damaged (and this is still rising).

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*photos courtesy of digitalphotographers.com.ph and kmbi staff

Super Typhoon Pepeng (codename: Parma) on the other had brought heavy rains and galeforce winds in Northern Luzon and Central Luzon during its one week stay in the country. As of October 9, 2009, 123 people are listed dead; 180 people missing from landslides and floods; 1,050,000 people were affected in 2,152 towns, in 26 cities in 21 provinces. Heaviest afected are the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Benguet, Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya. Current damages to property is estimated at 1.9 Billion pesos.

KMBI program members and staff were not spared, with 10,000 reportedly affected by the two typhoons. These program members had their hard earned businesses and livelihood destroyed on a flash, and is left nowhere to start again. Indeed, they feel that HOPE is bleak for them.

With this, we enjoin you to partner with us in bringing HOPE to these victims and we appeal to your generous heart in helping them pick up their lives and renew again by donating to the HOPE FUND. Your donations shall be used as loan fund exclusively available for KMBI program members whose enterprise was destroyed by the typhoon Ondoy. By allowing them access financial resources again, rehabilitation would be more easier for them as they endeavor rebuilding their enterprises, their lives, and their families. This innovative program allows women microentrepreneurs to become economically productive the soonest possible time to recover what has been lost to Ondoy.

A portion of your donation, should you wish, may also be used to fund our relief operations for those who are still in evacuation centers. Aside from food, water, medicines and clothing, we are planning to give some construction materials to the affected program members in reconstructing their shelters.

Your donations shall be treated with utmost sense of stewardship. Corresponding official receipt, certificate of donation (for tax credit purposes), and reports of utilization including pictures of activities to be conducted shall be provided to you. You can deposit your cash or cheque donations at account listed below. For cheque donations, kindly write KABALIKAT PARA SA MAUNLAD NA BUHAY as the payee. After depositing cash or cheque, please inform us of the pledge at aldyduque@kmbi.org.ph to acknowledge your donation.

Bank Branch: BDO, SM Super Center Branch, Valenzuela City
Account Name: Kabalikat Para Sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc.
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Dollar Savings Account: 2090199136

Your participation to this relief and rehabilitation drive for the typhoon’s victims is definitely a manifestation of God’s love and HOPE for them. Be a source of HOPE. Be a KABALIKAT!

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