Board Members of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), led by the Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC) Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, and Aboitiz Group of Companies CEO Sabin Aboitiz, convened for PDRF’s annual Board Meeting in Makati City to discuss impacts of recent typhoons and earthquakes and PDRF’s response and recovery efforts for the affected areas.
PDRF Board Members with Manuel Pangilinan (MPIC), Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corporation), Sabin Aboitiz (Aboitiz Equity Ventures), Doris Magsaysay-Ho (Magsaysay Maritime Corporation), Edgar Chua (Makati Business Club), June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla (MPIC), and Former Sec. Rogelio Singson (DPWH); PDRF Executives Butch Meily (President), Guillermo Luz (Chief Resilience Officer), Veronica Gabaldon (Executive Director), and Arnel Capili (Operations Center Director); Atty. Mike Toledo (MPIC); and Official NDRRMC Liaison and Former Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga (DENR)
To bolster response efforts for recent disasters, PDRF mobilized over PHP 20.7 million in assistance, reaching more than 20,000 affected families. This was made possible through the support of PDRF member companies; local and international private sector and nonprofit partners; US-Philippines Society; overseas Filipino groups such as the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, and the Wexford Filipino Community in Ireland; and various donors, including Loida Lewis of TLC Beatrice, who organized fundraisers in New York, and Henry Howard of U.S. Education Finance.
PDRF deployed response teams to provide immediate aid to different parts of the country hit by disasters, including La Union (Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong), Masbate (Typhoon Opong), Cebu and Davao (Typhoon Tino and earthquakes), and the most recent, in Aurora and Catanduanes (Super Typhoon Uwan).
PDRF is now shifting to support the recovery of these areas, prioritizing the rehabilitation of schools and health centers, and providing temporary shelter and shelter repair kits to displaced families.
Exclusive and Official Liaison of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson to the Private Sector and former Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga and former Public Works Secretary, former Independent Commission for Infrastructure member, and PDRF Board Member Rogelio Singson also joined the meeting. They shared insights on current government programs and strategies for disaster preparedness, particularly flood mitigation, and discussed how the private sector can support these initiatives.
The meeting also highlighted significant progress across several disaster preparedness initiatives, including emergency communications, early warning systems, water resilience, and airport preparedness.
The Board discussed the importance of investments in disaster resilience and the enhancements to the Emergency Operations Center aimed at expanding and improving its disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
PDRF Chairman Cardinal Tagle, who was unable to join the meeting, sent a message underscoring shared responsibility in addressing impacts of disasters. “Disasters are happening everywhere in the world. A comprehensive approach is needed that involves scientists, academics, governments, businesses, faith groups, families, schools, youth, social media, and most especially the poor. No one sector, no one country has a monopoly of data and can provide all the answers.”
Other PDRF Board Members include June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla (MPIC), Edgar Chua (Makati Business Club), Jose Victor Emmanuel De Dios (Manila Water Company), Ronnie Aperocho (MERALCO), Jose Maria Lorenzo Tan (World Wide Fund), Doris Magsaysay Ho (Magsaysay Maritime Corporation), Federico Lopez (First Gen Corporation), Lorelie Quiambao Osial (Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation), Rene Meily (PDRF), and Gareth McGeown (Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines).
Also present in the meeting was Atty. Mike Toledo, Director for Government Relations and Public Affairs at MPIC.
