Aboitiz Group donates livelihood kits to small community biz in Cebu, Bohol

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Aboitiz Group turned over 23 livelihood kits to selected beneficiaries who are community group leaders and small business owners directly affected during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December last year from Cebu that included Argao, Carcar City, Compostela, Liloan, Naga City, Sibonga, San Fernando, and from Catigbian, Dimiao and Sikatuna in Bohol Province.

Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation President and COO, in a ceremony held in Liloan and Carcar City on July 21 said, the Aboitiz Foundation tried its best to help Typhoon Odette affected areas to see 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.

This is part of the ongoing #RebuildCebu campaign of the Aboitiz Group, Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group, with Pilmico, its food and agribusiness subsidiary and Aboitiz Power’s Visayan Electric, partnered with RAFI Microfinance, Inc., (RAFI-MFI) to help rebuild Cebu through its project “Padayon sa Pagbugsay” (paddle unceasingly) rolled out in July this year.

According to Iris Dorado, Business Development Vice President of RAFI-MFI, the livelihood kits are sorted out into three types: Project Bacon, is a donation of high-breed gilts; Project Omelette, is an egg-laying machine with ready-to-lay hens; and Project Farina, is a bakery starter kit.

“All of which will enable the beneficiaries to sustain their livelihood through an easy-to-manage business with a quick return on investment.  This is the start of our rebuilding, which includes rebuilding our businesses and rebuilding our lives, not just ours, but our families and communities where we belong,” Dorado added.

Dorado went on that this project is not only for Aboitiz, this is also for the neighbors, the community, the children, and other members of our community.  These livelihood kits, would not be possible without the partners, the grantors who unselfishly provided these help as we rebuild Cebu.

A beneficiary from Carcar received three sets of Project Omelette an egg-laying machine with ready-to-lay hens from Pilmico that can generate 12 dozens of eggs per day.  In addition to livelihood kits, the beneficiaries will also receive one cycle of feeds and flour and technical assistance from Pilmico.

Greg Canoy, Pilmico Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist said that in Pilmico, there is always a guarantee that there will be someone who will assist and guide the beneficiaries on how to manage their business, ready technicians to assist in any difficulties and challenges, a service Pilmico provides for free to their clients.

Visayan Electric on the other hand, continues its support in the typhoon-stricken Cebu by providing additional egg-laying machines in Carcar.  Engr. Raul Lucero, VECO President and COO said Typhoon Odette devastated infrastructure and livelihoods in the Visayan Electric franchise and in Cebu in general.

“But we bounced back after a lot of hard work and dedication. The livelihood kits that we are giving to deserving beneficiaries is our way of showing that we care about our community and that we also want to help them rebuild their lives,” Lucero said.

Aside from the livelihood kits, the Aboitiz Group’s #RebuildCebu also provided 60 motorized bancas for fishermen in the municipality of Liloan and Talisay City and turnover 43 classrooms damaged by Typhoon Odette in Lapu-Lapu and Talisay before the start of face-to-face classes this school year. (Photos: Aboitiz Group/Google Images)