Aboitiz Foundation partnered with the uniformed men and women of the Armed Forces to deliver aid in the typhoon-stricken provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Surigao. Over 27,000 families benefited.

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.

—Maribeth L. Marasigan, President and COO, Aboitiz Foundation

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is one of the four mission areas of the Armed Forces. Together with the Philippine Army and Navy Reserves, the Armed Forces 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,” 2LT Buenafe B. Dandan (INF) PA, Assistant Operations Officer, 7RCDG.

Pilmico also provided relief packs to affected families in Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Cebu.

“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa Pilmico Feeds sa pag-alala sa amin sa kabila ng kahirapan nandito sila ngayon. Nagpapasalamat ako at ang mga tao na matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Maraming salamat sa staff na nandito lalo na sa mga organizers. Salamat, salamat, salamat!” Minerva Elsan, a Barangay Captain from Negros Occidental said.

As of January 3, the Aboitiz Group’s #BangonVisMin relief operations has delivered over 34,000 food packs, distributed water filters and 54,496 liters of water, served 300 individuals in the Bohol feeding program, prepared 600 sleeping kits and 6000 bread packs for distribution, and has established charging stations in Toledo City and Barangay Ermita in Cebu City. The group has also raised over 16 million pesos through its crowdfunding app ‘Kinder by Aboitiz,’ bank donations, and PayPal.