Monsanto donates P1.6 M to Red Cross for typhoon Pablo victims in Mindanao

While the rest of the world celebrated the last Christmas season, Filipinos in Mindanao were coping with a tragedy that many of them would not forget in a long time. Typhoon Pablo (international name: “Bopha”) swept across eastern Mindanao on Dec. 4 with monster winds gusting up to 200 kilometers per hour. The typhoon caused deadly flash floods and landslides, and flattened communities and farms which prompted Philippine President Benigno Aquino to declare a state of national calamity.
The typhoon left more than a thousand dead and scores missing. Also included in the fatalities were seven soldiers who were killed and four others who remained missing after they were hit by flash floods while doing relief work.
The Mindanaoans did not expect a typhoon of this intensity because the last time that they experienced such a strong storm was in 1912. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) initially estimated damage to crops and public infrastructure at P7.16 billion and rehabilitation of the affected areas continue up to this time.
Monsanto stepped up to the help affected residents in Mindanao. On March 11, Philippine Red Cross Chairman (PRC) and CEO Richard J. Gordon received a check from Monsanto worth US $40,000, or Php 1, 641, 364 .00 during a PRC Fund Raising kick-off activity  in Makati City. Monsanto was represented by Mr. Sandro Rissi, Country Lead of Monsanto Philippines.
Gordon acknowledged Monsanto as a reliable partner in helping Filipinos in need of urgent assistance. The slogan of the Philippine Red Cross is  Always first, always ready, always there and Chairman Gordon said Monsanto, “helps us do our jobs even better.”
Witnessing the turn-over of the donation were PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, Monsanto Philippines Customer Operations Lead Vidal Villena and Human Resources Lead, Marissa De Villa. Out of the total amount donated, Monsanto Philippines donated US $10,000 which was matched by Monsanto PANSEA. The total amount was further matched by the Monsanto Fund, bringing the total donation to US $ 40,000.