Press Release
September 29, 2009

DROP CARGO RATES TO HASTEN RELIEF EFFORTS, KIKO PANGILINAN APPEALS TO DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES, CARGO COMPANIES

In the wake of the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana), senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan appeals to both domestic and international airline and cargo companies to temporarily drop their cargo rates, or give large discounts to those sending in-kind donations or other forms of aid, to hasten relief efforts.

"It's ironic that there are so many of our countrymen from other parts of the Philippines and even other parts of the world who want to help in relief efforts, but they're constrained by the high costs of cargo forwarding. We appeal to cargo companies and airlines to enable the cheaper and faster sending of relief goods. It's already a matter of life and death for so many of our people."

Pangilinan made this appeal in the midst of relief efforts organized by his office for flood-stricken areas in Quezon City and Cainta, Rizal.

"When a tragedy of this magnitude strikes and people want to help, we need to remove as many of the barriers to helping as we can. There are ten million Filipinos overseas who may wish to donate and will be encouraged to give more of these rates are discounted. Let's please make it easier for people to give aid, and let's make it faster and more efficient for aid to reach those most in need."

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