In response to a series of strong earthquakes that jolted Mindanao for at least two consecutive weeks, BDO and BDO Network Bank branches joined non-governmental organizations and the military, immediately mounted relief operations for thousands of affected families.
As part of the disaster response efforts organized by BDO Foundation, volunteers visited evacuation sites and schools in 90 barangays to distribute 21,900 relief packs containing food, rice and water to Mindanaoans affected by the quakes.
The simultaneous relief operations provided much-needed aid to residents of Kidapawan City and the municipalities of M’lang, Magpet, Makilala, and Tulunan in Cotabato.
Aid reached as far as the mountains of Cotabato, where volunteers gave relief goods to the indigenous peoples of the province.
Relief goods were also handed out to beneficiaries in Digos City and Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur.
The distribution of relief packs was made possible under the leadership of BDO Davao and Southern Mindanao region head Beth Estrada and the heads of BDO and BDO Network Bank branches in Cotabato and Davao.
BDO employees continued to conduct relief operations even as they themselves were affected by the earthquakes.
The relief work was backed by BDO Foundation’s partner non-governmental organizations, including the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and Ako Ang Saklay, which helped the foundation reach remote areas in Cotabato.
A Catholic organization that undertakes outreach and medical missions in underserved communities, Ako Ang Saklay provided psychosocial support for the earthquake survivors.
The Philippine Army, also a partner of the foundation, helped transport relief items to badly hit barangays.
The corporate citizenship initiative is in line with the disaster response advocacy of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank.
The foundation mobilizes volunteers from BDO and BDO Network Bank branches across the country for relief operations in areas hit by natural or man-made disasters.
Earthquakes as strong as magnitude 6.6 and hundreds of aftershocks rocked Cotabato, Davao del Sur, and neighboring provinces, affecting thousands of people and damaging homes, infrastructure and commercial establishments.