About 1,200 families in Cebu have received relief packs from Operation Damayan, the humanitarian arm of The Philippine STAR.
Residents in Barangay Maharuhay in Medellin and Barangay Poblacion in Daanbantayan received packs of rice, canned goods, noodles, coffee, biscuits, blankets, towels and six liters of water.
Dog food and snack bundles for children were also distributed.
Philstar Media Group president and CEO Miguel Belmonte reaffirmed the long-standing commitment to serve disaster-stricken Filipinos beyond immediate relief.
Aside from disaster response, Belmonte said the mission has expanded to building classrooms, helping the sick and supporting various humanitarian efforts.
‘Basta kung saan tayo pwede makatulong, that’s how Operation Damayan is involved there,’ he said.
The Freeman Foundation continues to assist sick children and provide other forms of humanitarian aid throughout the year, he emphasized.
Belmonte expressed gratitude to major benefactors, including the Angelo King Foundation and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Anonymous regular donors also contributed to sustaining these missions, he noted.
‘My biggest gratitude goes to our team of volunteers,’ Belmonte said, praising employees of The Freeman and The Philippine STAR.
In Daanbantayan, Cebu 4th District Rep. Sun Shimura, provincial board member Kerrie Shimura and other local officials welcomed the Damayan-Freeman team and assisted in relief distribution.