By: April Therese Tan
Over 27,000 families in the typhoon-stricken provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Surigao benefited as aid were delivered by Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group partners with the uniformed men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Days after Typhoon Odette struck several areas in Visayas and Mindanao, major groceries and supermarkets in Metro Cebu experienced food and supply shortages which initially hampered our relief operations. We’re glad that our friends from the Armed Forces offered help to the #BangonVisMin relief efforts and mobilized their planes, trucks, manpower and delivered the much-needed assistance from Manila to VisMin,” Aboitiz Foundation President and COO Maribeth L. Marasigan said.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is one of the four mission areas of the AFP.
Together with the Philippine Army and Navy Reserves, the AFP has been coordinating with various partners, facilitating multiple donations and transporting needed supplies to several areas in Visayas and Mindanao severely affected by Typhoon Odette.
“We are your army volunteer reservists, handang tumulong sa pagbangon ng mga bayang nasalanta ng mga kalamidad. Just like here in Cebu, we help Aboitiz Foundation mobilize relief goods, kasi alam namin na makakatulong sa mga nangangailangan. Kaisa kami with Aboitiz to bring help to where help is needed.,” said LTC Ruel D. Jugalbot (INF) PA, Director of 701st Community Defense Center, Camp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City.
“In Cebu, we give assistance and support to Aboitiz Foundation through hauling and distribution of relief goods as we believe that through teamwork we can send more smiles to the faces of our beloved kababayans in need of help. Sa pagkakaisa, sabay tayong magbigay nang pag-asa sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” said 2LT Buenafe B. Dandan (INF) PA, Assistant Operations Officer, 7RCDG.-(April Therese Tan)