Tuesday, September 29, 2009

PBA joins aid effort for ‘Ondoy’ victims

PBA joins aid effort for ‘Ondoy’ victims


The Philippine Basketball Association is falling in line with government agencies and the private sector in extending a hand to the hundreds of thousands left drenched, homeless and grieving in the aftermath of the country’s worst storm-induced deluge in 40 years.

Commissioner Sonny Barrios and the PBA board of governors, led by chairman Lito Alvarez, authorized Sunday the release of food donations for victims of tropical storm “Ondoy” which poured a huge amount of rainfall on Metro Manila and outlying Luzon provinces last Saturday and triggered massive flooding everywhere.

PBA media bureau chief Willy Marcial said the Office of the Commissioner will be purchasing bread, canned goods and other food items from cash assistance coming from the 10 member ballclubs, sorting them out and loading the bags into trucks.

Team officials, coaches and players will be driven to the stricken areas, including Marikina, Pasig, Rizal and Antipolo where scores died and which remain submerged in mud-filled waters, to distribute the bagged goodies.

“We would like to lend a helping hand to the victims of Ondoy by sharing the blessings which the PBA had received over the years from our loyal fans all over the country,” said Barrios.

“Net proceeds from the 35th season inaugural day ceremony on Oct. 11 will also go with the seed money which the ballclubs have put up as calamity fund,” he added.

The PBA, Alvarez said, is undergoing the effort with a deep sense of sorrow especially for those with loved ones who perished.

“Needless to say, this endeavor is made much more personal to us all in the PBA family because of the loss of a colleague, a friend, a brother in Tony Chua,” the Burger King representative said.

Chua, the Barako Bull governor and league chairman two years ago, was swept away by raging flood waters, along with an aide, while on his way home at the height of the heavy downpour.

Rescuers were able to pull Chua out to safety after he lost his grip while clinging to a tree, but he apparently succumbed to a heart attack a short time later due to fatigue and hypothermia.

“I grieve for those who died, and I share in the anguish of chairman Tony’s family for their irreplaceable loss,” Alvarez said.

“It is in Tony Chua’s memory that the PBA offers whatever it can to help ease the burden of the flood victims.”

The PBA organized a similar relief effort for Pampanga several years ago.

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