ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio, and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) chairperson Regina “Gina” Lopez gave heartfelt thanks to the donors, who entrusted their money with ALKFI to help the Typhoon Yolanda survivors.

“Your contributions saved many lives and planted a new beginning,” said Gabby Lopez in the thanksgiving video plug aired on Friday (Nov 7), a year after Typhoon Yolanda made landfall in the Philippines.

“We are sending you our sincere gratitude for your help, compassion, and prayers. On behalf of the survivors of Yolanda, Bohol earthquake, and Zamboanga siege, thank you. Ang babait po ninyo,” added Santos-Concio.

Gina Lopez, on the other hand, reported how ALKFI used the donations, which amounted to more than P1 billion in cash and in kind. According to her, the funds went to relief operations (P2.64 million) and were allocated to education programs and building of classrooms (P184 million), housing projects (P225 million), and livelihood (P338 million).

Aside from the areas the government has assigned to ABS-CBN for long-term rehabilitation projects — Dulag, Marabut, and Sta.Rita in Leyte, and Basey in Samar, relief assistance also reached other provinces such as Bohol, Cebu, Biliran, Antique, Aklan, Oriental Mindoro, Iloilo, Masbate, Capiz, Palawan, and other areas of Samar and Leyte.

Meanwhile, in commemoration of the anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, DZMM brought its Teaching, Learning, and Caring (TLC) clinic and classroom-on-wheels to Mayorga and Pastrana in Leyte last Friday (Nov 7) and Saturday (Nov 8). Almost 2,000 residents benefitted from the feeding program, free medical service, distribution of free reading glasses, and more. News anchor Bernadette Sembrano led the storytelling for the children.