MVP group, other companies join Marawi relief effort

MANILA, Philippines - Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s group of companies has joined efforts to provide much-needed relief to the thousands of people displaced by the ongoing fighting between government troops and Maute terrorists in Marawi City.

The Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., the PLDT-Smart Foundation, Maynilad Water Services and listed conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) are sending food, water and other essential items to address the needs of those displaced.

A team of executives from the MVP Group of Companies is also getting ready to fly to Mindanao as soon as the military is able to provide transport for the relief items that they will personally distribute in several evacuation centers.

Aside from relief items, the group’s telecommunications firm Smart Communications has donated P2 million worth of mobile services to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) fighting in Marawi.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), also chaired by Pangilinan and of which the MVP Group of Companies is an active member, has successfully raised P5.8 million for Marawi’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) recently.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday expressed its gratitude to everyone giving aid to families affected by armed conflict in Marawi through the agency.

“The help you extended will go a long way toward improving the situation of the affected families. Let us continue to show our bayanihan spirit during these trying times,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a statement.

The others that coursed their donations through the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC) include students from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila campuses, the Masonic District-National Capital Region (NCR), Sogo Hotel and the Bureau of Customs, Mindanao Banana Farmers & Exporters Association Inc. and Kabataan party-list- Cordillera.

“We also want to thank Cebu Pacific Air for giving the DSWD 20 metric tons (MT) or 20,000 kilograms of cargo space for free on its Manila-Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan) flights for our relief goods. Thank you for being our partner in delivering our relief goods to affected civilians in Marawi,” Taguiwalo said.

Apart from those who provided in-kind donations, the DSWD chief also thanked individuals and groups who donated cash through the department’s bank accounts. She also thanked those who gave donations but chose to remain anonymous.

The donations will be flown to Cagayan de Oro via Cebu Pacific, together with the additional augmentation support from the DSWD.

Those who want to extend help to the affected families may still donate through the DSWD.

The military asked relief groups to coordinate with security forces when trying to enter Marawi following reports that a humanitarian group – National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission – led by former congressman Teddy Casiño was denied access to the city. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero, Janie Cameron