Tragedy-stricken So. Leyte continues to draw concern from top corporations

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
April 28, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Amid the political bickering which projects disunity among the people of the country, the exact reverse is actually happening in the countryside – take the case of the tragedy stricken So. Leyte which continues to draw concern from various sectors, including the country’s top corporations.

Recently, top Manila corporations visited Southern Leyte to offer livelihood opportunities, to monitor ongoing assistance or to evaluate how they could be of help to the people of Southern Leyte.

The Mirant Foundation executive Director Bobby Calingo who is the president of the League of Corporate Foundation has taken the initiative to bring together all the participants of the Southern Leyte relocation and rehabilitation activities. The LCF members decided to develop a master plan for everybody to support and implement. Each of the participating corporations have its own niche to fill and together avoid useless duplications and provide a more meaningful and sustainable assistance to Southern Leyte. The Mirant Foundation will install electricity in two communities/barangays.

The Petron Foundation, represented by Mattei Uylangco, in collaboration with its partners in the energy group has started building a community in Liloan with 100 houses, day car center and multi- purpose hall. The consortium will also build at least two school buildings.

The Aboitiz Group Foundation, represented by its supervising project officer Fred Baykin, was with the group to explore possible additional assistance to Southern Leyte. It has donated relief goods of rice, bottled water and others, delivered in Maasin on February 22, as well as facilitated shipments of relief goods from Manila to Visayas.

Metrobank Group of Companies thru its Chairman George S.K. Ty gave thru DSWD 5 million pesos which is broken down to Toyota Motors, 2 million pesos; Toyota Autoparts, 1 million pesos; Metrobank Card Corp., 1 million pesos and Metrobank Foundation, 1 million pesos. A representative of the company was with the group which visited Southern Leyte to evaluate what other assistance they may give.

Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Inc. has sent Legal and External Affairs Director, Atty. Danilo Macatangay will evaluate their 1.5 million pesos given thru UNICEF and see what other assistance the company can give Southern Leyte.

Mirant Foundation Inc. Alex Escaño will liaison and coordinate with all the participants and cooperators including the local government units.

Those who are preoccupied in political bickering and sowing disunity in Manila should learn from these top corporations helping those who need to be helped because they are aware of their social responsibility and because they care for their fellow Filipinos without any thought of any reward and recognition.