MANILA – Big companies in the country have raised over PHP1.5 billion to help the urban poor amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Project Ugnayan targets to distribute PHP1,000 gift certificates to over one million households in the poor communities of the greater Manila area,” the companies said in a joint statement.
Project Ugnayan is supported by Aboitiz Group, ABS-CBN/Lopez Group, Alliance Global/Megaworld, AY Foundation and RCBC, Ayala Corporation, Caritas Manila, Century Pacific, Concepcion Industrial Corp, DMCI, Gokongwei Group of Companies/Robinsons Retail Holdings, ICTSI, Jollibee, Leonio Group, Mercury Drug, Metrobank/GT Capital, Nutri-Asia, Oishi/Liwayway Marketing Group, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, PLDT/Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Puregold, San Miguel Corporation, and SM/BDO, Sunlife of Canada, and Suyen Corp.
“In compliance with social distancing guidelines, gift certificates delivered door to door will be redeemable for food items from accessible groceries and supermarkets,” the firms added.
Project Ugnayan is partnering with Caritas Manila’s Project Damayan and ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-ibig program for the distribution of the gift certificates.
“We are grateful for the support of the business community and hope that this initiative will inspire more acts of kindness in this time of crisis. Now is the time for our communities to help as one,” Caritas Manila Executive Director, Fr. Anton Pascual said.
Project Ugnayan is currently in talks with other companies that can pledge their support for the program.
There are now four pilot areas for the project of the big firms. (PNA)
