Interventions by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness and Response (RAFI HDPR) directed toward ameliorating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for various beneficiaries have now reached a total value of P220M.
Among other interventions, RAFI was able to extend aid to over 442 passengers mostly returning residents of Negros Oriental, who were stranded in Samboan, Cebu, following the closure of the port there. The passengers were required to complete a 14-day quarantine in a public school before proceeding to Negros, and as part of its program of delivering relief to the LGUs, RAFI provided the Municipality of Samboan with food, sleeping mats, sanitation kits, medicines and other relief goods for their use.
“Thank you RAFI for supporting the stranded passengers of Negros Oriental and Occidental who were stranded in Samboan. The municipality is forever grateful for your generosity in providing relief goods, sanitation kits, bread, banig and medicine, you are truly a hero of philanthropy in these trying times. They are now leaving for Negros after successful negotiations with the Provincial Government of Negros. Thank you so much for being our champion of corporate social responsibility.” shares Vicky Calderon from the Samboan LGU.
Meanwhile, RAFI Micro-finance Inc. (RMF) is supporting the seamstresses among its clients or “Nanays” by contracting these micro-business owners to produce about 4,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), with over 900 already distributed to hospitals and organizations.
Nanays whose businesses involve distribution on supply of dried fish and vegetables were also contracted to provide some of the 53,000 food relief packs to be distributed to different LGUs throughout Cebu and Masbate. The banig or sleeping mats distributed to street-dwellers and the stranded passengers in Samboan also came from RMF clients. Some RMF clients will also receive RAFI-funded relief goods through their respective LGUs.
Such humanitarian interventions to LGUs, RMF clients, the homeless, and elderly and children centers account for P195M of RAFI’s P220M total contribution to date.
A total of P25M was allotted to interventions focused on measures for the treatment of COVID-19 cases, primarily a partnership with DOH and OPAV for the Bayanihan Center in Cebu and additional partnerships with LGUs and various barangays to help prepare isolation areas of the COVID-19 patients; prevention initiatives including provision of PPEs; the #HUNAW handwashing campaign; the Komunidad Kontra COVID communication campaign; and partnerships for provision of various medical medical supplies to DOH for its COVID-19 massive rapid testing in various LGUs.
Kind individuals and organizations who wish to join fight COVID-19, may visit www.rafi.org.ph and RAFI’s Facebook Page or e-mail at covid19donationhub@rafi.ph for more details.
