Gokongwei Group extends ‘Odette’ relief operations

MANILA, Philippines — The Gokongwei Group, one of the largest and most diversified Philippine conglomerates, was among the first to extend help to victims of Typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao as it immediately responded with disaster relief operations in true bayanihan spirit.

The group, composed of JG Summit Holdings Inc., Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. and Summit Media, through its family foundation, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), has to date provided aid to over 19,000 beneficiaries from the various communities where the Gokongwei Group businesses operate, on top of the relief goods that have been provided to almost 12,500 of their workers affected by the typhoon.

“All the more given the unfortunate timing of the typhoon during the holiday season, we respond with compassion and sacrifice to ensure that those in need are given much-needed assistance,” said Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit.

Leveraging on the on-ground presence of business units such as Robinsons Land (RLC), Universal Robina Corp., Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Bank and Robinsons Retail, the relief distribution efforts have reached affected communities in key locations in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Palawan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, and the cities of Cebu, Lapu Lapu, Surigao, and Butuan City, in cooperation with local government units (LGUs). Delivery of the much-needed relief goods was provided by Cebu Pacific, supplemented by the logistical support of 2GO, the Philippine Air Force Civil Aviation Group and the Philippine Navy.

GBF’s synergy with the various business units of the Gokongwei Group in efficiently organizing and mobilizing assistance has also inspired collaboration and support from external partners such as Shang Properties Inc., a valued project partner of the group’s real estate arm RLC, through its charitable coordinating body Kerry Group Philippines Foundation Inc. (KGPFI).

Through the support of GBF and KGPFI, as well as RLC in collaboration with SM Foundation through its logistics arm 2GO, some 8,000 packs of relief goods were turned over to Cebu. The goods comprised of essentials such as canned food, noodles, rice, coffee, snacks, and medicine.

As no clear end is yet in sight to the complete recovery of the communities affected by Odette, the relief and rehabilitation efforts remain continuous. “The spirit of ‘bayanihan’ is important now more than ever during difficult times as these,” Gokongwei said.