Locally known as Odette, Super Typhoon Rai made landfall in the Philippines last December 16, 2021. As the strongest typhoon to hit the country last year, it left a trail of devastation which rendered several communities in the Visayas and Mindanao in great need of food, drinking water and shelter.
In response to the adversity faced by communities residing in those locations, Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) launched “Oplan Smile” – a series of concentrated calamity relief operations to aid families in need. Together with Operation Smile Student Programs Philippines in Cebu, Dr. Lilian Arcinas and team in Palawan, HOPE Foundation in Bacolod, and OSP’s Davao team in Surigao, “Oplan Smile” efforts managed to procure, pack, and distribute relief kits to 1830 families.
In Cebu, a total of 20 tons of water, 3 tons of ready-to-eat food and rice, and 1 ton of first aid and COVID-19 prevention supplies were distributed with donations in kind received from different communities both here and abroad. Alongside the distribution of food, water and other relief goods, “Oplan Smile” initiatives in Palawan involved the participation of several government units to provide displaced communities with provisions for temporary shelters such as blankets, tarpaulins, and mosquito nets. The team also conducted free blood smearing for malaria detection among recipients.
In Bacolod, relief efforts included the distribution of grocery packs, hygiene kits and tarpaulins for temporary housing cover, while groceries, rice, and drinking water were given directly to affected families in Surigao.
With the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, the delivery of relief goods from Manila to the Visayas and Mindanao proved to be quite the logistical challenge. However, through a partnership with Operation Smile Philippines, AirAsia went the extra mile to bring relief to affected communities. With Operation Smile Student Programs Philippines in charge of the packing, pickup, and distribution of relief goods, AirAsia had a hand in the loading and unloading of goods as well as the chartering of mercy flights – allowing for a seamless process that quickly and efficiently brought help to those in need.
As an international medical charity, Operation Smile works with healthcare providers, governments, and hospitals to improve the health and lives of children from more than 60 countries across the world.
“Operation Smile is committed to transforming the lives of children and families across the world,” said Emiliano Romano, Executive Director of Operation Smile Philippines. “With the severity of the widescale devastation left by Super Typhoon Odette, we concentrated our efforts to deliver relief to affected communities as quickly as possible. Together with the support of our partners and the generous contributions made by Filipinos both here and abroad, guided by the values of civic unity and cooperation that comprise the bayanihan spirit, our Oplan Smile efforts will tirelessly continue alongside our foundation’s purpose of bringing more smiles to Filipinos across the country,” he added.
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