The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) prepared a total of 53,000 relief packs for areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
PAGCOR sent out an initial 5,000 packs on Thursday, October 24, to kick-off the massive relief drive.
PAGCOR chairperson Alejandro Tengco said on Saturday, October 27, that the relief packs will go to hard-hit communities in the Bicol Region, Northern Luzon and CALABARZON.
"Many of the major roads to these areas were not passable at the height of Kristine’s onslaught so we had to wait a bit for the floods to subside, but were able to ship out the first batch of relief items even while the storm was still lashing out parts of the country," Tengco said in a statement.
PAGCOR said that 2,000 food and non-food packs arrived at Lipa, Batangas on Thursday night.
The state gaming agency also donated 3,000 relief packs to the Angat Buhay Foundation of Former Vice President Leni Robredo, which will distribute the items to victims of flash floods in Naga City.
"This is just the start of our massive relief drive for Kristine-hit areas,” Tengco assured.
"Coordination with various local government units and other government agencies like the Office of the Civil Defense is ongoing to ensure the safe and prompt delivery of PAGCOR’s aid to displaced communities," he added.
PAGCOR said that Bicol Region, which suffered the brunt of the recent weather disturbance, will receive over 24,000 food and non-food relief packs.
The agency will also distribute relief goods to Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Apayao, La Union, Quezon, Rizal, and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.
