Makati City, November 20, 2009. East West Banking Corporation, a member of the  Filinvest Group of Companies, has donated more than P16 million worth of fabric  materials to victims of typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, Ramil and Santi. The Bank was  among the institutions that heeded calls from various NGOs to donate blankets,  clothes, bed sheets to the typhoon victims.

"Shortly after Ondoy struck, EastWest Bank, had planned to donate food, like rice and  canned goods, as other donors and institutions were doing," Bank President & CEO  Tony Moncupa, Jr. said. "We realized however, that most of the donations going into  the relief centers were food. There was a great need for blankets, sleeping mats and  protection materials from the elements in the relocation centers and temporary  dwellings."

EastWest Bank soon mobilized volunteers and hired workers to cut and pack the  textile rolls in the Bank's warehouse. More than 3,000 rolls of assorted fabrics were  cut into 80,000 pieces. "Initially, the Bank donated through the Educational Research  & Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation. Three more organizations that we have  identified as beneficiaries will also receive allocation of the items," EastWest Bank and  Filinvest Development Corporation Chairman Jonathan Gotianun added.

Meanwhile, EastWest Bank also launched a fund raising campaign for typhoon victims  through its 89 branches nationwide. The campaign, dubbed "EWB Calamity Alleviation  Fund" was launched on October 1 and has been able to raise P385,000 in donated  funds. "We will turn over the collection to reputable relief organizations," said  Moncupa.

Bank customers may still channel donations to victims of the typhoons and floods  through EastWest Bank's branches. Donors may deposit check and cash contributions  to EWB CAF Account Number 0901036081.