In line with its disaster response advocacy, BDO Foundation found ways to extend assistance to thousands of underserved Filipinos affected by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated parts of Northern Luzon.
The foundation mounted relief operations in areas hit hardest by the tremors including the municipalities of Bangued, Dolores and Tayum in the province of Abra as well as Candon City and the towns of Caoayan and Santa in Ilocos Sur.
It mobilized volunteers to visit evacuation sites and distribute relief packs containing food, rice and drinking water to 7,600 affected families in 26 barangays.
The initiative was made possible by volunteers from partner parishes, barangay officials and representatives of local disaster risk reduction and social welfare agencies.
Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel provided security and logistical support.
Officers of BDO and BDO Network Bank branches helped identify communities in need.
The relief efforts in Abra and Ilocos Sur were the latest conducted by BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank.
The foundation also provided cleaning kits for 1,100 families in Banaue, Ifugao to help the community clean up dirt and debris scattered by the southwest monsoon.
In Davao City, it distributed food packs to 300 families displaced by a fire incident.
As a follow through to its relief operations, BDO Foundation implements long-term rehabilitation and rebuilding programs in disaster-affected provinces.
