I've lived full time in the PI for almost 9 years now. Odds are if you donate, at best 50% of what you give will make it to the people in need. BUT that is A HELL OF A LOT especially for people that at this point just need food and water. ANYTHING is better than nothing!
Why would someone suggest that 90% of what you give wouldn't make it to the people? Well, it's not that crazy of a figure:
Last month doing relief efforts for the 7.5 quake the mayor of Bohol wouldn't let the Red Cross in unless they agreed to let him handle disbursement:
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/20...mayor-standoff
Oh, and like what's happening RIGHT NOW for victims of the typhoon, the relief trucks might get robbed:
http://www.adobotalkph.com/2013/11/r...goods.html?m=1
Then there's the typical LOVE of red tape and inefficiency that's so prevalent here. Watching CNN yesterday the reporter was pointing out that no trucks were going into Tacloban yet but the relief goods and trucks were on the tarmac and the roads were clear enough for the CNN crew to drive in. So, um, why?
If you want to understand the cultural challenges:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality
All that said, I reiterate ANYTHING given is better than nothing for people that have had their homes, loved ones, towns, lives wiped off the face of the earth. The sad fact that only a smaller percentage of what's given will likely get to the people in need makes it all that much MORE important that people who can help out financially step in and give.