Google activates typhoon relief efforts

MANILA, Philippines — Technology company Google has set in motion its crisis response efforts to help communities in the Philippines affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

Google said it has collaborated with Dashboard Philippines, a non-profit public service initiative, to organize data on evacuation centers and various drives.

Google provided Dashboard Philippines with support to run its public service web app at virtually no cost to both the developers and the public.

As part of the ongoing recovery efforts, the volunteer-driven platform mapped the locations of the Philippine Red Cross chapters and the locations of evacuation centers in Metro Manila.

The group is also open to civil society organizations and other government agencies seeking to have their information mapped in the platform.

Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, has also set up an internal campaign that will match the donations made by employees.

The company said some $63,500 has already been raised, with the fund going to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, an intermediary organization that specializes in distributing donations to nonprofits that work in the affected country or region.

Google also launched a holiday giving campaign, providing each employee a $400 credit that they can use to designate Google donations to qualified organizations, including the Coalition of Elderly, Mengal Women and Humanility.Org.

“The year 2020 has been extremely challenging for the country given the recent calamities on top of the ongoing pandemic,” said Google Philippines country director Bernadette Nacario.

“Our hearts go out to those impacted and we want to do our best to help through our technology, partnerships and employee donation matching campaigns,” she added.