Daily Tribune‘Our fellow Filipinos are not alone in this crisis. Through our shared efforts, we are not just delivering relief to help our kababayan, but also building on the incredible strength of communities rising together in the face of difficulty.’ — OMF president Jeffrey O. Tarayao
NAGA City Mayor Leni Robredo received relief packs from OMF and the Meralco External and Government Affairs, to be distributed to hard-hit communities in the city.
Photo courtesy of One Meralco Foundation
THE Morente family, who live in Bogo City, is grateful for the relief packs which will sustain their essential needs while they recover from the destruction of their home following the strong earthquake.
FAMILIES in Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental, who experienced the brunt of typhoon ‘Tino,’ were recipients of aid from OMF.
THE solar lamps from OMF’s Light Up Pilipinas program illuminate their homes even in the aftermath of the destructive earthquake. This also helps students in ensuring their learning continues despite their circumstances.
IN Tanudan, Kalinga where bridges were destroyed due to super typhoon ‘Uwan,’ bayanihan became the bridge for residents to receive OMF relief packs.
IN the middle of heavy rains, OMF was able to distribute solar lamps to fisherfolk residents of Dingalan, Aurora who are among those severely hit by super typhoon ‘Uwan.’
THE relief packs and solar lamps from OMF reached Cebu with the help of the Philippine Navy.
In Tanudan, Kalinga where bridges were destroyed due to super typhoon ‘Uwan,’ bayanihan became the bridge for residents to receive OMF relief packs.More than 9,000 families affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake and typhoons “Tino” (international name “Kalmaegi”) and “Uwan” (international name “Fung-wong”) received aid from One Meralco Foundation, the social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and its partners and donors as part of its disaster resilience and response initiatives in times of calamities.
Residents from Bogo City, the epicenter of the strong temblor, were among those who benefited from the aid. This includes husband and wife Jonas and Anecita Dauba Morente, whose house in Bogo City was destroyed in the wake of the earthquake, injuring one of their children and forcing them to evacuate their home to seek shelter and sleep by the roadside.
“Malaking tulong na ito sa aming pagkain, sa aming pang-araw-araw,” a grateful Jonas said of the relief pack they received from OMF.
The relief packs, which contain food for families affected by the earthquake and typhoons, also reached affected residents in Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Tuburan, Bantayan, San Remigio, Toledo in Cebu, including island barangay Gibitngil in Medellin, made possible by the efforts of OMF’s partners in disaster response: the Philippine Navy, which transported the goods to the island via the BRP Dagupan City LS551, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc., non-profit organization Passerelles Numeriques Philippines, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN)’s MThermal, and Meralco subsidiary MIESCOR whose employees based in Cebu helped distributed these relief packs as well as solar lamps to affected Cebuanos. Through OMF’s Light Up Pilipinas program, the solar lamps distributed serve as a vital, sustainable source of light for earthquake-hit communities to continue their productivity while power restoration is underway. Same goes for affected students of Passerelles Numeriques Philippines, which provides education for disadvantaged youth, can continue their studies even at night through these lamps.
OMF, with MIESCOR, also set up a repacking area in their office premises in Lapu-lapu City to efficiently prepare and manage the relief goods. Julliegen Gastardo, MIESCOR project manager, was among those quick to respond in the aftermath of the earthquake. “Leading the team on the ground reminded me that true service goes beyond our work — it’s true malasakit,” she said.
Families living in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental — one of the worst-hit municipalities in the province when typhoon “Tino” barreled through the country — also received relief packs and other essential items with the help of OMF volunteers on the ground.
Aid for families affected by super typhoon ‘Uwan’
OMF also responded to Filipinos devastated by super typhoon “Uwan.” Together with the Meralco External and Government Affairs (EGA) office, the Foundation donated relief packs for 500 families through Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. In Aurora, OMF and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation provided relief packs to affected families in Dipaculao and Dinalungan while fisherfolks in Dingalan were given solar lamps so they can have light at home when electricity goes out, and illuminate their way when they fish out on sea. In Tanudan, Kalinga where super typhoon “Uwan” destroyed bridges, residents formed their own human bridge so that the relief packs from OMF, in partnership with the St. Mark the Evangelist Tanudan Catholic Mission and XVD Alumni Association (Christ the King Mission Seminary), reach the communities in need.
Meanwhile, residents in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Baras, Rizal and Calatagan, Batangas who were affected by the heavy rains and strong winds brought about by super typhoon “Uwan” received relief packs from OMF and MGEN.
These disaster response efforts were also made possible with donations from Meralco employees, Meralco’s Networks Group, Vantage Energy, and liquefied natural gas-to-power facilities LNGPH.
“Our fellow Filipinos are not alone in this crisis. Through our shared efforts, we are not just delivering relief to help our kababayan, but also building on the incredible strength of communities rising together in the face of difficulty,” OMF president Jeffrey O. Tarayao said.
