The Aboitiz Group, through its corporate social development arm Aboitiz Foundation, has raised a total of Php20.6 million to date (October 31) for its Bohol relief efforts, as donations from various private individuals and institutions pour in.
Part of the donations, which is estimated to bring the total of served families in the earthquake-stricken province of Bohol to approximately 35,000, came from SJ Foundation, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Trabanza Corp., and actress Sharon Cuneta.
Now on its second week of continuous relief operations, the Aboitiz relief team has completed the second phase of goods distribution, reaching inland barangays including Loon, Tubigon, Sagbayan, Calape, and Clarin, and about 30 isolated island barangays, bringing the total number of families served to 15,000.
“Our volunteers who have been working tirelessly for two straight weeks now, ensures that all your donations get to our brothers and sisters in Bohol who are hardly hit by this calamity, fast,” said Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sonny Carpio.
“We were the first relief team onsite less than 24 hours after the earthquake struck to assess the magnitude of the damage and respond to immediate needs,” he noted.
Island barangays that were reached during phase two of the relief operations include Pangapasan, Bilang-Bilangan, Batasan, Ubay, Bagong Banwa, and Mocaboc in Tubigon; Lawis, Talisay, Kinabag-an, Magtongtong, Madangog, Looc, Lomboy, Kahayag, and Mantatao in Calape; Basdio, Calayugan Norte and Sur, Sondol, Ubojan, Canigaan, and Mocpoc Norte and Sur in Sandingan, and Cambaquiz, Cabacungan, Looc, Talisay, Brgy. Catalina, Brgy. Canmano, Sagbayan, and Pantudlan in Cabilao island.
The relief goods containing water, canned goods, sugar, biscuits, and five kilos of rice, which were packed from the foundation’s temporary command center at the Naval Force Central Command in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are estimated to last a week for a small family with four to five members.
The group also distributed tents and tarpaulins to serve as temporary shelters for victims whose homes were destroyed by the quake.
Volunteers include team members from the Aboitiz Group’s Cebu-based business units such as AboitizLand, CitySavings Bank, construction firm Metaphil, Pilmico Foods Corp., Visayan Electric Company (VECO) and other AboitizPower distribution units, and their friends and families; Mater Dei College students; Philippine Navy, ROTC students, Navforcecen ladies, and their families, and LLC Muslim Cooperative.
Apart from sending manpower to the relief operations, the business units also initiated several activities to reach out to the quake victims. Pilmico Foods distributed around 3,000 relief bags with bread donations from its dealer / partner, Benison.
VECO sent teams and special equipment to assist Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative to help restore power in affected areas.
Carpio said that the foundation is continuously working with the local governments and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in conducting assessments to further identify areas of immediate concern.
How you can help:
Please send cash donations to the Aboitiz Foundation through the following:
· Aboitiz Foundation’s UShare portal http://ushare.unionbankph.com/aboitiz/
· Union Bank of the Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944
· City Savings Bank Account No. 200-20031301
Or visit www.aboitizfoundation.org and click the “Donate” button.
For other concerns, you may contact the following Aboitiz Foundation representatives:
· Danny Cerence (Coordination) – 09176308172
· Rowena Astillo (Donations) – 09176304484