More than 9,000 Filipino families reeling from the devastation of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake and successive storms—Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong)—have received much-needed assistance from One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company, together with its partners and donors.
Among the hardest hit was Bogo City in Cebu, the epicenter of the powerful earthquake. Residents like Jonas and Anecita Dauba Morente saw their home reduced to rubble, leaving one of their children injured and forcing the family to evacuate and sleep along the roadside.
For Jonas, the relief pack they received was more than just aid—it was immediate survival support. “Malaking tulong na ito sa aming pagkain, sa aming pang-araw-araw,” he said, expressing gratitude for the assistance that helped his family get through the most difficult days.
Philippine Navy personnel holding solar lamps and bags of relief supplies for earthquake-affected communities.
Relief packs containing essential food supplies reached not only Bogo City but also several other affected areas across Cebu, including Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Tuburan, Bantayan, San Remigio, Toledo, and even the island barangay of Gibitngil in Medellin.
Delivering aid to remote communities required coordinated efforts on the ground and at sea, with the Philippine Navy transporting relief goods aboard BRP Dagupan City LS551. OMF’s response was further strengthened through partnerships with Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc., Passerelles Numeriques Philippines, Meralco PowerGen Corporation’s MThermal, and Meralco subsidiary MIESCOR, whose Cebu-based employees personally helped distribute relief packs and solar lamps to affected residents.
Three individuals stand outdoors, holding a banner that reads ‘Maraming Salamat, One Meralco Foundation’. They are surrounded by relief goods including food supplies, with a backdrop of trees and a hillside.
Through OMF’s Light Up Pilipinas program, solar lamps were provided to earthquake-hit communities as a sustainable source of lighting while power restoration was ongoing. These lamps allowed families to remain productive at night and enabled students from Passerelles Numeriques Philippines—an organization supporting disadvantaged youth—to continue their studies despite prolonged outages.
A young girl wearing a shirt sits at a table, writing in a notebook, with a solar lamp illuminating her workspace amidst a dimly lit room filled with clothes.
To ensure efficient operations, OMF and MIESCOR established a repacking area at their office in Lapu-Lapu City, streamlining the preparation and dispatch of relief goods. MIESCOR Project Manager Julliegen Gastardo, who was among the first responders after the earthquake, said the experience reinforced the true meaning of service. “Leading the team on the ground reminded me that true service goes beyond our work—it’s true malasakit,” she shared.
Group of individuals holding relief packs from One Meralco Foundation, gathered outdoors at night, with a banner showcasing the foundation’s name.
Beyond Cebu, OMF’s disaster response extended to Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental, one of the municipalities most severely affected when Typhoon Tino swept through the province. With the help of OMF volunteers, families received relief packs and essential items to help them recover from the storm’s impact.
A group of people standing in front of the Naga City official service building, with relief packs arranged on the ground and a One Meralco Foundation banner displayed.
The Foundation also mobilized aid for communities devastated by Super Typhoon Uwan. In Naga City, OMF and Meralco’s External and Government Affairs office donated relief packs for 500 families, coursed through Mayor Leni Robredo. In Aurora, OMF partnered with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to distribute relief packs to families in Dipaculao and Dinalungan, while fisherfolk in Dingalan received solar lamps to provide light during power outages and ensure safer night fishing at sea.
A group of women receiving solar lamps from a volunteer during a relief operation for disaster-affected communities in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, families in Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Baras, Rizal; and Calatagan, Batangas—areas battered by heavy rains and strong winds—also received relief assistance from OMF and MGEN. These extensive relief operations were supported by donations from Meralco employees, Meralco’s Networks Group, Vantage Energy, and LNG-to-power facilities LNGPH.
Residents of a disaster-stricken area in the Philippines are seen receiving relief packs while traversing a rocky terrain, with palm trees in the background.
“Our fellow Filipinos are not alone in this crisis,” said OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao. “Through our shared efforts, we are not just delivering relief to help our kababayan, but also building on the incredible strength of communities rising together in the face of difficulty.”
As disasters continue to test the country’s resilience, One Meralco Foundation’s response underscores a simple but powerful message: in times of need, help is never far away.
Article by Komfie Manalo | The Chronicle
