RAFI allots P58 million for humanitarian efforts

CEBU, Philippines —  In its continuous effort to help multi-sectoral groups to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., (RAFI) allotted P58 million for its Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness Response (HDPR) initiatives.

This budget allowed RAFI to distribute Relief, PPEs to over 100 Hospitals across Cebu, as well as disposing of food, health kits, hygiene products, masks and non-contact digital infrared thermometer guns to partner organizations including Gasa sa Gugma, Ramon Durano Foundation Home for the Aged, Missionaries of the Poor (Little Lambs Center and Elderly Home), Missionaries of Charity, Albert Schweitzer Familienwork Foundation Philippines Inc, SOS Children’s Village, Agak Foundation, Abtanan sa Kaluoy, Sto. Niño Foundation and Little Bamboo Foundation.

Touching people through charity and shaping the future with hope—an undertaking that RAF has been carrying out especially in this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 These efforts have reached over 1,285 children and elderly beneficiaries.

In collaboration with World Vision, RAFI has also provided hygiene kits to 600 families. Social distancing and wearing of masks were strictly observed during the distribution of these relief goods.

To help lower the risk of medical professionals and health workers handling COVID-19 patients, RAFI has also provided personal protective equipment (PPE) sets and face shields, masks, alcohol and surgical gloves to hospitals including Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Glory Reborn Organization, Cebu City Medical Center, Talisay District Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, Eversley Child Sanitarium, Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital, Sugod Public Hospital and Cebu City Emergency Medical Services. In partnership with All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO), RAFI has provided 2,000 PPE sets to over 97 hospitals in Visayas and Mindanao as of March 31, 2020.

“Knowing that colleagues in and out of the country are sick or dead because of COVID-19, we just had to do something rather than hide away from it. This (intervention) should have affected our local curve as we protected the care givers early on in the said curve.” said Dr. Wyben Briones, founder of AMRO (All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization).

RAFI will also be distributing 53,000 packs of relief goods to various local government units (LGUs) in the province starting next week.

  The foundation is also inviting kind individuals and organizations who wish to join the fight against COIVD-19 and contact via email [email protected] or visit www.rafi.org.ph or RAFI’s Facebook page.