(Photo courtesy of OPAV)
CEBU CITY – A humanitarian flight arrived in typhoon-stricken Cebu on Friday morning, bringing relief goods, hygiene kits, and water from several donors and sponsors.
The latest “bayanihan” effort brought together several groups of companies and foundations to join hands to bring donated goods to Cebu on the last day of 2021.
The flight was made possible by the MVP group composed of Maynilad, Meralco and other companies, One Meralco Foundation, Philippine Airlines and its foundation, GMA, Makati Medical Center, PTT Philippines, and Chevron Philippines, among others.
PAL provided the aircraft and personnel while PTT and Chevron sponsored the jet fuel used by the aircraft.
Makati Med and Maynilad Water Services brought hygiene kits and two tons of water while GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. brought relief goods.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), represented by Undersecretary Anthony Gerard “Jonji” Gonzales, accepted the donations on behalf of Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino.
He also thanked the MVP group of companies, PAL, Chevron, and PTT for mounting the humanitarian flight.
The OPAV, through Secretary Dino, also gave assurance that the donations would be delivered to badly-hit areas in the Visayas without delay.
“This is bayanihan. This is the call of the times,” Gonzales said. “Relief delivery is now made quicker with military and Coast Guard assets purchased during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration. Now, it’s easier to send goods to the severely affected areas, like hard-to-reach islands.”
Earlier, the President directed that all government assets be used in bringing assistance and relief to the areas hit by “Odette”.
Meanwhile, the wives of five of the Meralco linemen who came to Cebu to help in the restoration efforts, also joined the flight so they could surprise their husbands who would still be staying in Cebu for the restoration efforts.
Jeffrey Tarayao, Meralco Foundation, Inc. president, said Meralco deployed 54 linemen, engineers, and support staff to help the Visayan Electric Company and the Mactan Electric Company repair and rehabilitate toppled poles, and transmission and distribution lines after “Odette” wreaked havoc in Cebu.
Tarayao said they are staying on to help so long as they are needed.
“We take our cue from our partners VECO and MECO. As long as we’re needed, we are willing to stay here,” he said.
Tarayao noted that although Meralco is based in Manila, the company would always be there to extend help when needed.
“We understand the dilemma. That’s the reason why we’re supporting the restoration efforts. Electricity brings with it light; light brings hope. It’s very important – pagmamalasakit. Even if we’re far away, if our Pilipino kababayans need us, nandyan ang Meralco,” he said.
Maria Elizabeth Mendoza, the wife of Meralco lineman Audi Mendoza, said she feels proud her husband has decided to join the Meralco team who came to Cebu to help in the restoration efforts.
She said her husband joined because “we love our kababayans.”
This is the first time her husband who has been working for Meralco for 32 years has joined restoration efforts.
Peachy Ann Jamero, the wife of lineman Cornelio Jamero Jr., said she was glad that her husband, who was recently awarded as one of the outstanding linemen, was among those chosen to join the team.
Mendoza and Jamero were among the five wives who came to spend a brief time with their lineman-husbands but will go back to Manila on the aircraft’s return flight.
“Personally, I express my gratitude to the post-‘Odette’ heroes who left their families to spend Christmas in Cebu, and (are) now spending New Year here too, just to restore power that will also bring back water supply,” Gonzales said.
Meralco, along with other power companies and cooperatives, has been providing much-needed help, not only in Cebu but also in other areas in the Visayas.
Meanwhile, PAL Express president Bonifacio Sam noted that the company always participates in bringing relief to areas when needed.
“Actually, in the airline industry, we are always there every time there (are) disasters and calamities,” Sam said.
The humanitarian flight on Friday was one of the many contributions of PAL to relief efforts, he said, adding that PAL has allocated a space of up to one ton for a big aircraft for relief goods and donations per flight to areas hit by “Odette”.
In the aftermath of “Odette”, PAL has been bringing relief goods to Cebu, Tagbilaran City, and Cagayan de Oro, he said.
The airline also transported passengers going to Cebu and Manila through emergency flights from Siargao, Sam recalled.
He called on Cebu to be patient.
“Aid will come and we’ll help deliver the donations to places where these are most needed,” Sam added. (PR)
