To enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by global pandemic get back on their feet, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated – Microfinance (RAFI-MFI) enlisted the help of mothers for its COVID-19 response effort in the Visayas.
The RAFI-MFI ‘Nanays’ have already earned a combined PHP8.9 million from selling vegetables, dried fish (buwad), and monggo for RAFI’s relief packages and for sewing hazmat suits and sleeping mats (banig).
Meanwhile, those ‘Nanays’ with dried fish and vegetable distribution businesses shared their goods for inclusion in the 53,000 food relief packages distributed by the foundation to local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and Bohol.
Rafaela Ducay, who works at the Taboan Public Market in Cebu City, has 20 fellow mothers in her employ who packed the buwad for RAFI’s relief packs. Because buwad has long been a staple food in Cebu and throughout the Philippines, it is a viable source of livelihood for several local entrepreneurs.
Dako kaayo ug tabang na ni-order si RAFI namo. Nagpasalamat ko kay kung wala si RAFI, wala sad gyud mi karun sa panahon ug kalisod. Agwanta lang sa ta gamay, kay naa man gyud panahon na di ta katug-an na mahitabo. Importante healthy ta ug makatabang sad pud ta sa uban [It’s been a great help that RAFI ordered [goods] from us. I am thankful because if it wasn’t for RAFI, we won’t have anything at this time of crisis. The situation came unexpectedly, but we just need to hang on. What’s important is we’re healthy and are able to help others.]
– Rafaela Ducay, MSME
RAFI-MFI ‘Nanay’ seamstresses have produced approximately 4,000 PPEs, which have already distributed to hospitals and other organizations.
In this time of crisis, the Aboitiz Group all the more believes in empowering affected Filipinos by offering a sustainable economic lifeline. We hope that our efforts will make a difference in helping families get back up on their feet and continue thriving in these challenging times.
– Sabin M. Aboitiz, President & CEO, Aboitiz Group
The banigs they made were distributed to street dwellers and over 442 stranded passengers (mostly returning Negros Oriental residents) in the port town of Samboan, Cebu.
Thank you, RAFI, for supporting the stranded passengers of Negros Oriental and Occidental in Samboan. The municipality is forever grateful for your generosity in providing relief goods, sanitation kits, bread, banigs, and medicine. You are truly a hero of philanthropy in these trying times. Thank you so much for being our champion of CSR.
– Vicky Calderon, Samboan, Cebu LGU
In addition to the PHP195 million allotted for relief operations, a total of PHP40.5 million goes to interventions focused on COVID-19 prevention, screening, and treatment. This brings RAFI’s total response efforts to over PHP235.5 million.
RAFI continues to work in partnership with the Department of Health and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Visayas for the Bayanihan COVID-19 Centers in Cebu. There are also partnerships with LGUs and various barangays to help prepare isolation areas for the COVID-19 patients; prevention initiatives including the provision of PPEs; the #HUNAW handwashing campaign; the Komunidad Kontra COVID communication campaign; and partnerships for provision of various medical supplies to DOH for its COVID-19 massive rapid testing in various LGUs.
