Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Pilmico Foods Corp. teamed up with RAFI Microfinance Inc. to help rebuild Cebu through “Padayon sa Pagbugsay” (paddle unceasingly) which was rolled out in July in the municipalities of Liloan and Carcar, Cebu.
Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz Group’s corporate social responsibility unit, and Pilmico, the food and agribusiness subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group, together Aboitiz Power’s Visayan Electric continue to uphold the #RebuildCebu campaign.
Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan said the conglomerate stayed true to its promise to help the victims of Typhoon Odette, who, up to this day, have yet to fully recover from the devastation brought by the typhoon in December 2021.
“We want to see the communities rise from the aftermath of this disaster. Our goal is to help them recover and become more resilient communities. We thank our local partners, the Aboitiz business units, who came together to extend valuable assistance,” Marasigan said.
The event will benefit families from different areas in Central Visayas which include Argao, Carcar City, Compostela, Liloan, Naga City, Sibonga, San Fernando and Catigbian in Cebu and Dimiao and Sikatuna in Bohol.
Aboitiz donated three types of livelihood kits. Project Bacon is a donation of high-breed gilts, while Project Omelette is an egg-laying machine with ready-to-lay hens. Project Farina is a bakery starter kit. All kits will enable the beneficiaries to sustain their livelihood through an easy-to-manage business with a quick return on investment.
The livelihood beneficiaries are community group leaders and small business owners directly affected during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December. Through RAFI-MFI, a total of 23 kits were donated.
RAFI-MFI business development vice president Iris Dorado said the rebuilding efforts entail the whole of community approach where each and every family benefits from the assistance extended by the foundation.
“This project is not only for us, this is also for our neighbors, our community, our children and other members of our community. These livelihood kits, which I am thankful for, would not be possible without our partners. We have our grantors who unselfishly provided us with the help as we rebuild Cebu,” Dorado said.
The beneficiaries will also receive one cycle of feeds and flour and technical assistance from Pilmico.
Pilmico guarantees to assist and guide micro-entrepreneurs on managing their businesses as part of the assistance provided to beneficiaries.
Visayan Electric also continues its support in the typhoon-stricken Cebu by providing additional egg-laying machines in Carcar. The power firm gave livelihood kits to deserving beneficiaries as a way of showing helping communities rebuild and recover.
The Aboitiz Group’s #RebuildCebu also provided 60 motorized bancas for fishermen in the municipality of Liloan and Talisay City.
Aboitiz will also turn over 43 classrooms damaged by Typhoon Odette in Lapu-Lapu and Talisay before the start of face-to-face classes.