SMC’s financial support for Odette relief hits P83 million

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC), one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, has increased its financial support for employees and students displaced by Typhoon Odette.

In a statement, SMC said it has so far spent P83.4 million for its response operations.

SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang said that along with efforts to distribute some P35 million in food aid and water to various provinces, the company also extended support to its employees in areas badly-hit by the typhoon.

The company has extended some P43.4 million in cash assistance to over 2,200 of its own workers.

The financial assistance is meant to help affected employees in whatever way they may need – whether it’s to repair their homes or ensure sufficient food supply for their families, among others.

“While we’ve continued to work with partners to bring aid to communities, we have also been prioritizing members of the San Miguel family,” said Ang.

The affected SMC employees are assigned in the Visayas region where damage was more widespread. They are deployed in SMC facilities, including its food and beverage, fuels, packaging, infrastructure, properties, banking and other businesses.

SMC also recently provided assistance to students in Cebu, through a P5 million donation to the University of the Phlippines (UP). The donation will cover the living expenses and remote learning requirements of affected students, as well as the setting up of learning hubs that will temporarily serve as study centers throughout the city.

According to the Department of Education, around 15 million students from over 35,000 schools have been affected by Typhoon Odette.

Among the provinces that received the donations from SMC are: Antique, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Bacolod, Bohol, Biliran, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Cebu, Dinagat island, Davao del Sur, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Marinduque, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Tagoloan.