‘Project Ugnayan’ Raises Php1.7-B for 1.5-M Needy Families — NTF

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By EDD K. USMAN

SDN — THE global pandemic Covid-19 has not dampened the spirit of “Bayanihan” in the Philippines.

Instead, it could have strengthened the spirit of reaching out to the most needy.

As proof, the business community’s Project Ugnayan” has already generated Php1.7 billion intended for 1.5 million lo-income families affected by the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

“We are very grateful to businesses and organizations which have taken part in ‘Project Ugnayan.’ Through your efforts, you are helping our less fortunate brothers and sisters cope with the effects of this Covid-19 pandemic,” Galvez said.

Around 56 private business establishments  launched the project last month on March 19. It is a collaborative social undertaking among the businesses and the families running them.

To implement it, Project Ugnayan (roughly Project Reaching Out) has five distribution centers, including Caritas Manila, ABS-CBN, Jollibee. It is a collaborative project between the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the government, and the Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation (PDRF), the Secretariat.

Galvez described Project Ugnayan as “truly the Filipino Bayanihan spirit in action” because of the collaboration between the public and private sector to help those who need most.

In English, “Bayanihan” maybe translated as “community spirit” of helping each other.

Project Ugnayan for Bayanihan

One of the donors of the project, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, noted that as of April 4, it has already reached 4.9 million people.

“We will be continuing our distribution through Easter and the proceeding weeks so we can reach our goal to serve 1.5 million families,” he told Galvez in a letter.

How the distribution is being carried out, according to Ayala.

• Caritas Manila (principal distributor) — provided Php1,000 worth of grocery gift certificates and vouchers to 651,799 families — 3.26 million individuals done house-to-house.
• ABS-CBN — food packages delivered to 179,078 families or some 895,390 individuals assisted by local government units (LGUs) via its Pantawid ng Pag-ibig Project.
• Jollibee — with its FoodAID Project, donated Php100 million to indigent families; also delivered ready-to-cook chicken packs to 146,212 families or 731,060 beneficiaries.
• ADB — in collaboration with the government, distributed aid to 8,030 families or 40,150 individuals through its Bayan, Bayanihan! Project.

Zobel de Ayala emphasized that Project Ugnayan is working closely with the barangay (village) captains, local chief executives, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“We also observe the proper measures such as social distancing and providing our priests and volunteers with gear, alcohol, and vitamins,” he added.

The companies and families who donated under Project Ugnayan include the following: Aboitiz Group, ABSCBN/First Gen, Alaska Milk Corporation, Alliance Global Group & Megaworld, Alphaland, AY Foundation & RCBC, Ayala Corporation (OK)/Zobel de Ayala Family, Bench/Suyen Corp, Bonifacio West Devt Corp, Carmelray Group, Cathay Land, Inc., Cebuana Lhullier, Century Pacific, Coca-Cola Philippines, Conception Industrial, Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal Foundation, Inc., Daiichi Properties, DMCI Group of Companies, Dowell Container and Packaging Corporation, Far Eastern University, F.F. Cruz & Co., First Life Financial Company, Focus Global Inc., Global Food Group, Glorious Commercial Exports, Inc., Gokongwei Group of Companies/Robinsons Retail Holdings, International Container Terminal Services, JAKA Group, Jollibee, JP Morgan, Kawit Prime Holdings Inc., Leonio Group, MAP, Mercury Drug Corporation, Metrobank, Mumuso Group, Nutri-Asia, One Meralco Foundation, Oishi/Liwayway Marketing Group, Penshoppe, People R People, PepsiCo Foundation, Philippine Racing Club, Inc., PLDT/Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Puregold, Ramon S. Ang and Family, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc./Supreme Steel Pipe Corporation, RRK/Lee Jeans, Shang Properties Inc., SM/BDO, Sugar Junction Inc., Sunlife of Canada, Super Prime Holdings, Inc., TAO Corporation, Unilab, and Wilcon Depot.

Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz welcomed being part of the project.

“We are pleased to be part of this relief effort in ensuring more economically-vulnerable families receive the help they need,” he said, citing the need to step up in these trying times.

The Aboitiz Group donated Php100 million to Project Ugnayan. (SDN)