Foundation Takes On Cebu Earthquake Relief Efforts

Recent earthquakes have jolted the country and crippled a lot of lives in Northern Cebu. While the government addresses relief efforts, the private sector also took some of the chores to make sure everybody gets the help that they need. The folks from B!ing0P|us in Cebu (employees) took potable water, packed food and needed medicine to roughly 56,000 individuals in places like Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Borbon and Tabogon communities as they partnered with LGU's and other private entities in the region. 

B!ing0P|us Foundation treats this as a call to action which is why they immediately took 6 million funding to affected folks in Cebu. Through their Bayanihan P|us program, it took them a while to get to these areas but committed to the cause. They were met with aftershocks, heavy rain and transport challenges, but they didn't fret because they knew how much help the folks need including a 5.8 Richter scale aftershock that they experienced too. 

Their teams from Manila and local Cebu offices took to the streets together with the AFP engineering brigades to deliver help to far flung areas in Northern Cebu, also doing it house to house including PWD's in the community via PADS (Philippine Accessible Disability Services). 

It might be a long recovery process, but they will not hold back helping this part of the country. They plan to monitor and partner up with even more organizations to make sure Cebuanos, Filipinos would get access to supplies at the most trying times. If you want to know more about their efforts, follow their social channels by searching for the foundation name on FB and other channels.

Foundations Strengthen Efforts in Crisis Relief and Supports DSWD

While the country is being ravaged by storms, typhoons and monsoon rains, the CSR efforts of DigiP|us Interact!ve Corporation through their subsidiary B!ng0P|us Foundation are continuing to support the Department of Social Welfare and Development specifically the Crisis Intervention Unit in Quezon City. This includes provisioning furniture and logistical support to make sure their help gets to where it is needed in the locale and nearby cities. 

This center in Paragon Place in Commonwealth was put up to take in those who need assistance from DSWD through their AICS and AKAP programs which gives financial help to those affected by natural disasters including these recent weather disturbances that have left a few homeless and need of aid. The foundations have supplied over 1034 chairs and 204 tables for use in these centers via their adopt a center program. They have long done these efforts and plan to continue in the coming years to make sure people get services when they need it most. 

Foundation Gives Hope for Communities in South Luzon

South Luzon is home to various IP groups and communities. Much of its landcape has been continuously hit by natural disasters and their lives have been heavily affected. The folks from DigiP|us, through their social arm Bing0P|us Foundation knew they needed not just material help, but livelihood that could be sustainable. Bicol region always has been in the typhoon's path and recovery after takes time.

Folks from the foundation took time and visited these communities in Manalansay in Oriental Mindoro to get them units of solar lights and solar powered generators so farmers from local organizations would be able to have power in these far flung areas. These are used to light up their homes, power houses that produce handicrafts that provide livelihood for these IP's for years now. Their kids also need it to study, have education and provide power for their phones and communicate with others if needed.

Mothers like Ms. Gayot who want to teach their kids and study at home didn't have these lights in order to help with their studies. This is the first time they've had an opportunity to receive needed resources like these, in over 20 years that they lived there.

In the Bicol region, the foundation provided financial assistance to several affected families of Typhoon Christine, even those in Cam Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes group of islands and Masbate. They have pledged over 37 Million Pesos for it since November 2024. They did it with the help of government agencies such as DSWD in Region 5 and has benefited 74 families in these areas. Over 250K of it will go to house repairs and help affected children in need of education, those orphaned too. This certainly gives hope to those who live in these communities, and this foundation is just starting.

Legarda Pushes for Women's Hand at Disaster Risk Efforts

Change has been happening but more has to be done. In the midst of a huge typhoon today, it is but a good time to see how women play a huge role in disaster risk reduction. Honorable Senator Loren Legarda puts emphasis on how their roles whether lead or not, can actually spark change in the management of it.

At the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, she says "It is important that women have access to resources, training and education to make sure it becomes a reality. This includes those who are marginalized, whether women, girls or those with disabilities in the region. The countries in these areas have to have systems in place to warn people early, evacuation plans, and even recovery if needed be.. with everyone participating."

Her efforts on pushing for legislation that promote gender equality, the Clean Air Act, plus the Magna Carta for Women and the PDRRM act would help promote and protect them in times of disasters in the country. This puts policy making procedures include women as a requirement. Women's role in all these aspects remain important, to hopefully, also put their needs forward, without prejudice, in any decision that has to be made. 

It just makes total sense.

Foundations Address Hunger, Sanitation Needs in Eruption Stricken Areas

There is still prevalent hunger in the country and we have to address it. Aside from that, there is a deep concern about sanitation especially when the uneventful things happen. Recently, BingoPlus Foundation took initiative in bringing in over a thousand groceries, food packs and sanitation kits for evacuees in Negros Occidental because of the eruption of Mount Kanlaon. This was done with local government officials of La Castellana and the Nikki Cares Foundation. 

This was in support of the First lady's "Lab for All" medical program where BingoPlus Foundation organized volunteers and logistics in a medical mission for a little over 8000 indigents in the region. They also did this for those in General Santos City, giving 500 folks needed flu vaccines specifically in Purok Mapailubon, plus necessary sanitation facilities to be utilized by different barangays in the area.

They also launched and funded a Dressmaking Training Center for residents of San Isidro, together with their government partners TESDA and DOLE. This is through their KabuhayanPLUS livelihood program which has several projects across the country. This is part of their Barangay Bigayan initiatives which addresses community issues whether it is for service, health and infrastructure needs. They are also moving to put in something for emergency preparedness rather than just doing post disaster responses. This is why DigiPlus President Andy Tsui wants to do in every emergency they have to go to. This is their vision for BingoPlus Foundation which he heads.

Disaster Resilience and Cebuana Lhullier's FREE Micro Insurance

Micro enterprises comprise 89.5% of the country's business sector. As much as we want to always have perfect weather, we are the most vulnerable when it comes to environmental disasters. The climate is changing, and those who have not been usually been hit by typhoons now have it regularly and that means we have to be ready. We have to be resilient against disasters and that takes a lot of things to work. When disaster strikes, products can't be delivered, equipments get damaged, there are delays in payments, loss of clients, people cancel orders and workers don't get to work. It would not only take a hit physically, but on the economy. Planning is vital, but without related training micro, small and medium enterprises wouldn't survive and we have to all adopt to disaster resilence trainings from successful programs and look into how we could strengthen businesses by arming them with it. 

During the Disaster Resilience forum where I was invited by Cebuana Lhullier, their President and CEO Jean Henry Lhullier mentions "The country has been affected by natural disasters and has bothered the lives of 80% of the local economy. We need to work together to inform, empower and protect millions of Filipinos that are in the midst of these disasters. This is our second year on the Disaster Resilience forum and we want to reach more vulnerable sectors in the society so they become financially included and protected. This is part of Cebuana Lhullier's advocacy which we have started in 2016 tied in with our products like Alagang Cebuan Plus Gold (launched last year), Cebuana Alerto App and National Pilipino Protektado Day which aims to provide one million FREE micro insurance coverage to Filipinos across the country."

If you want to know more, you may call 8951093 or email them via clismarketing@pjlhullier.com. 

Now that's good news. 

KUMAGCOW

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