One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), immediately extended help to families following the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or Habagat enhanced by Super Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi) last week.
Thousands of relief packs with essential goods were distributed across Metro Manila and nearby provinces as emergency aid for those affected by heavy rains and floods.
As the destructive effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the habagat swept over Metro Manila last Wednesday, Meralco employee-volunteers spent time to help repack the goods and prepare the bags for distribution.
Hours later, OMF turned over relief packs to the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) to be distributed to families in need of immediate aid.
On Thursday, OMF with employee-volunteers from Meralco Roosevelt Business Center and Meralco Rescue Team distributed relief to hundreds of families in Barangay Sto. Domingo and Barangay Tatalon, who were temporarily staying at the UST-Angelicum College gymnasium due to deep floods.
The Foundation, with help from employee-volunteers from Meralco Cainta Business Center and the Meralco Rescue Team, also distributed relief packs to flood survivors in Barangay Sto. Domingo in Cainta, Rizal where floodwaters reached the second floor of homes.
One of the beneficiaries, Onyok Sumambong, said that their home was inundated and flood waters swept away many of their precious belongings, including his carpentry tools for his livelihood. He expressed his gratefulness after he received a relief pack, which he said would feed his family.
“Malaking tulong itong bigay ng One Meralco Foundation. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa biyaya na bigay ninyo sa amin,” he said.
OMF also extended support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Command, who distributed relief packs to hundreds of families affected by the torrential rains and floods in Katipunan Village in Rodriguez, Rizal.
“Napasaya natin ang mga taga-Rodriguez lalo’t isa tayo sa mga unang nakapagpaabot ng tulong sa kanila. Salamat Meralco sa inyong tulong sa komunidad,” said BGEN Vicente M. Ronatay, Commander of the AFP Reserve Command.
Meanwhile, Meralco, OMF and Miescor Logistics Inc. also turned over 1,000 relief packs to the local government of Valenzuela City led by Mayor Wes Gatchalian.
OMF also distributed hundreds of relief packs to residents of Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City and to Barangay Tabing Ilog in Marilao, Bulacan.
To help more kababayan, Meralco employees also donated funds so more calamity survivors can receive relief packs.
OMF is set to distribute thousands more of these to more communities in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“In collaboration with the various local governments and national agencies tasked to implement disaster response, we extend help as needed to affected communities by immediately mobilizing our team together with Meralco employee volunteers who selflessly allot their time to our relief efforts. With the spirit of bayanihan and malasakit, we are hopeful that our kababayan can rise from this calamity in the quickest possible time,” said One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao.
