MANILA, Philippines - When Supertyphoon Yolanda slammed into the Visayas last year, it left a trail of devastation in its wake. But the worst of times tends to bring out the best of us, and the last few months have seen the Filipino bayanihan come shining through. Today, in unprecedented scale, the private sector is working hand-in-hand with the government and international and local groups to provide relief to our countrymen who were left homeless, jobless, and hungry.
One model for private sector action is Globe Telecom, who revived their “Bangon Pinoy†initiative in the wake of Yolanda. The company-wide crisis and disaster response program was first launched in 2009, after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc on Luzon. “Bangon Pinoy†banks on Globe’s technology, resources, and connections, as well as involves all Globe brands and segments, in order to address the immediate needs of disaster victims — from food, medicine, water and clothing, to access to communications via Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging and Libreng Internet.
But as Yolanda was a disaster of never-before-seen proportions, Globe tells Supreme that they’re ramping up their efforts with a new initiative called Project Wonderful. This program not only addresses Yolanda victims’ immediate needs, it aims at the long-term — rebuilding communities via sustainable development.
Project Wonderful is Globe’s response to nation building, the company says. Its actions include providing shelter to the homeless, bringing education to the children, and generating livelihood opportunities for the jobless. The effort is aided by Globe employees themselves, who volunteer their time to serve the Yolanda-hit areas of Palawan, Panay Island, North Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Samar.
See, according to recent statistics, Yolanda damaged over one million houses, more than 20,000 classrooms of public schools, and P17 billion worth of agricultural products in regions 4B, 6, 7, and 8. Project Wonderful addresses all of these concerns, and as Globe recently shared with Supreme, here are seven ways the company plans to make a difference.
1. For housing, Globe, through a P15-million donation by its mobile and home broadband brand Tattoo, will build houses in the Gawad Kalinga Rotary Village in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte, for the benefit of 100 families. The project includes providing livelihood projects for village residents.
2. In another housing effort, Globe has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide repair kits for 500 homes in affected host communities in Culion, Palawan; Daanbantayan,Cebu; and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
3. Another 940 shelter kits will be distributed in Malaya and Madalag,Aklan in partnership with Non-Timber Forest Products.
4. For education, Globe will establish 100 tent classrooms in totally damaged elementary and secondary high schools. These tents will provide students with places for learning while permanent school buildings are yet to be built.
5. What are classrooms without learning materials? Globe tells Supreme they are targetting to provide at least 5,000 learning kits for students and teachers in identified tent schools.
6. It’s important to provide typhoon survivors with jobs, so that families may provide for themselves and get back on their feet. For this, Project Wonderful includes a livelihood initiative with its autoload max (AMAX) Retailing Business package. This is in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s sustainable livelihood program. Capacity-building and enterprise development grants will also be provided to affected communities.
7. Globe is likewise coordinating with the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) which is tasked to plan, organize, monitor, and oversee government and non-government efforts pertaining to Typhoon Yolanda.
“Let’s make a wonderful Philippines,†says Globe. The company invites everyone to be part of community rebuilding. Visit www.projectwonderful.ph to volunteer and to get more updates on its rebuild efforts.