EDC and its partners brought 11 container vans of generator sets, solar lamps, canned goods, clean water and clothes for Odette-stricken familiesOver 26,000 families in Bohol that spent Christmas in evacuation centers due to typhoon Odette that hit the Visayas and Mindanao regions in December received aguinaldo (gifts) from Energy Development Corporation (EDC), its partners and the rest of the Lopez Group.

EDC and the Lopez Group strive to fulfill their mission to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future through their pampamilyang malasakit matched with the spirit of bayanihan that Filipinos are known for.

The presents were in the form of 11 container vans worth of generator sets, solar lamps, clothes, blankets, rice, canned goods and clean water. EDC head of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public relations Atty. Allan Barcena turned over the donations to Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap and his team.

“We mobilized a team a few days before Christmas to facilitate emergency purchases from different suppliers after receiving information that Bohol is still practically isolated and numerous families need food, clean water and other supplies,” said Barcena.

Apart from items from EDC and its employees, the company accepted donations from external partners for its shipment to Bohol. Among the donors were Manila Water which sent 498 water containers, and supporters of the Bohol governor who sent generator sets and other relief goods.

In Leyte, EDC CSR department head Erwin Magallanes said ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.- Sagip Kapamilya in Tacloban helped the team in the distribution of goods to municipalities.

“We are grateful to ABSCBN Sagip for assisting us in our relief operations in San Ricardo and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte, and the municipalities of San Francisco, Liloan, San Juan and Anahawan,” Magallanes said.

He added: “Apart from immediate relief for the residents, we also provided two boom trucks and 10 trained linemen to assist in restoring power in Southern Leyte. We partnered with the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Commission to help the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) bring back the electricity faster.”

Without this additional help from EDC, SOLECO foresees that its power will only be restored in March 2022.

Three generator sets were reserved for EDC employees to sustain the power supply for their homes and communities. (Story/Photos by: Frances Ariola)