The Aboitiz Group through its corporate social development arm Aboitiz Foundation, along with the Aboitiz family’s private foundation, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), have partnered with the Philippine Navy for the fast, efficient and safe delivery of goods to the areas and residents most hit by the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

“The partnership with the Philippine Navy has been invaluable in enabling us to do our relief operations faster and in the most cost efficient way. Because of their assistance, our brothers and sisters in Bohol are able to get help right away, pilferage is avoided, and the relief goods reach the intended families safely and securely,” said Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sonny Carpio.

For the past two weeks, the Aboitiz Group has already raised over Php 20 million that is estimated to bring the total number of served families in the province of Bohol to 35,000.

The Aboitiz Group has set up its command center at the Naval Forces Central in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where Naval personnel work hand in hand with hundreds of volunteers from the Aboitiz Group’s various 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; students from Mater Dei College; ROTC students, Naval Forces Central ladies and their families, and the LLC Muslim Cooperative.

The Philippine Navy transports the goods to the island of Bohol, where they are handed over to the Philippine Army for the distribution on land. Through the military’s help, the Aboitiz Group has already reached 30 isolated island barangays, giving them food, water, tents and tarpaulins.These 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.

“We truly admire the commitment and dedication of our men in uniform. This is not just a job for them but a vocation and we sincerely thank them for their relentless effort”. said Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sonny Carpio.

RAFI for its part, is currently on its third round of complimentary relief efforts, having raised over Php 3 million worth of funds in both cash and kind and reaching unsaturated areas and mountain barangays in the province. These areas include Maribojoc, Antiquera, Calape, Loon, Inabanga, Pandaon, Nasingin, Buenavista, Argao and Boljoon.

On top of its relief operations, the Aboitiz family’s private socio-civic organization, has also been conducting Psycho-social activities for minors in select areas. The activities include stress debriefing, games and storytelling, and distribution of candies, school supplies and coloring books. The next phase will involve rebuilding classrooms and schools in the disaster-hit areas.

Despite the non-stop work, Carpio shared that the spirit and mood in the command center remains positive, even jovial.

“Volunteers don’t mind the long hours, the stress, hunger and heat. Everyone is just happy to help. It is truly overwhelming”, he shared.

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

For updates on the relief operations, visit the Aboitiz Foundation’s Facebook page. (Facebook.com/AboitizFoundation) or follow @AboitizFDN on Twitter. Show your support by using #BangonVisayas in your social media posts.