MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Two months after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), Ayala Foundation, together with the rest of the Ayala group, has kicked off its efforts to distribute shelter kits for families severely affected by the typhoon.
At least 500 families in the Visayas and Mindanao received building materials to get them started in rebuilding their homes, which were either damaged or destroyed by the typhoon. The shelter kit distribution is part of the Ayala group’s efforts to support Odette- stricken communities as they gradually recover from the ravages of the typhoon. Each family received GI sheets, plywood, nails, and waterproof sealant.
In the province of Dinagat Islands, at least 150 families from the island barangays of Cabayawan and Gomez, both under the municipality of Dinagat, received shelter kits. The shelter kit distribution activities in Dinagat were implemented in partnership with the Diocese of Surigao, particularly with the help of volunteers from the parish of Dinagat.
Meanwhile, in Siargao, the Ayala Foundation team, together with Ms. Patsy Zobel, distributed shelter kits for 80 families in barangay Katipunan and 51 families in General Luna. Aside from shelter kits, solar lights for students and teachers, water containers, and food were also distributed.
Over 250 families from at eight barangays in Cebu City are also scheduled to receive shelter kits this February and March.
These distribution activities are part of the Ayala group’s unified efforts to support communities affected by Typhoon Odette, which ravaged Visayas and parts of Mindanao and Luzon in November last year. Under the banner of #BrigadangAyala, which consolidates groupwide CSR and community efforts, the Ayala group has provided food relief for 26,346 families or 131,730 individuals from at least nine provinces affected by Odette.
Aside from relief distribution activities led by Ayala Foundation, other Ayala companies conducted parallel relief efforts in locations that were directly under Odette’s path. These included ACEN, which served Negros Island; Ayala Land, which focused on Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City; and Globe Telecom, which worked closely with various partner organizations and provided Libreng Tawag services.
Donors from within and outside of the Ayala group have also pitched in much needed additional support for various relief and rehabilitation efforts undertaken for Typhoon Odette communities. These include Amdocs, the United States–based Filipino Young Leaders Program, Huawei, ACEN, BPI Foundation, Base Bahay Foundation, Globe Telecom, IE Medica/MedEthix, and Kickstart, while the Ayala Business Clubs, Entrego, and Makati Development Corporation provided logistical support.
To donate to Ayala Foundation’s rebuilding efforts for Typhoon Odette–stricken communities, visit https://afi.ph/DisasterResilience
