5,000 families receive Noche Buena packs from PLDT & Smart

PHOTO: In partnership with the PLDT-Smart Foundation, PLDT Home turned over Noche Buena packs to the Pasig LGU to benefit families in the area. In photo is Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto.

Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko brings hope to Filipinos nationwide

As part of the MVP Group’s Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko (TPRAP) movement, PLDT, Smart and the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) reached out to over 5,000 families and communities nationwide.

PLDT through its Home business unit, raised around P5M to support families who were severely affected by the typhoons. This support will include Noche Buena Packs for families, as well as connectivity tools for home schooling in the new normal. In partnership with the PSF, PLDT Home reached out to beneficiary families of partner LGUs such as Manila, Pasig, Malabon and Mandaluyong.

PLDT, through Community Relations, also turned over Noche Buena packs to families and communities in Brgy. Anahaw, Labo, Camarines Norte and Brgy. San Vicente, Ogbon, Camarines Sur.

Through the efforts of the PLDT Bicol Customer Service Zone, there were about 500 families who received Noche Buena packs from Brgy. Anahaw, Labo, Camarines Norte and Brgy. San Vicente, Ogbon, Camarines Sur. These were areas severely affected by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

Moreover, PLDT also turned over 100 facemasks and 100 faceshields each to Municipality of Labo Mayor Joseph V. Ascutia and to Brgy. San Vicente, Ogbon.

PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications (Smart) provided over 1,300 Noche Buena packs to families across the country. These include tricycle drivers in General Santos City; the Jolohanon Women’s Association, which is a Tausug fishing village in Sarangani Province; the Typhoon Pablo victims in 2012 who were relocated to the MVP Village in Baganga, Davao Oriental; various communities in Aloguinsan and Boljoon, Cebu; Surigao City; Zamboanga City; Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City.

Other communities include the women quilt makers in Caohagan Island of the Olango Group of Islands in Lapu-lapu City; women Hablon weavers in Argao, Cebu; and banig weavers in Basey, Samar.

The efforts are done in partnership with Smart’s local sales as well as regional and provincial distributors.

Around 500 families in Agusan that were affected by tropical storm Vicky also received Noche Buena packs. Smart also provided 300 sacks of rice to Dumagat Farmers in Marikina Watershed. Moreover, a sustainability fund under the #BuyLocal campaign and TPRAP movement were also turned over to farmers from Pangasinan.

Smart assisted over 900 families by providing cash-for-work assistance. The cash-for-work program aims provide immediate livelihood opportunities to support household heads.

Meanwhile, PSF provided Noche Buena packs as well as vegetables and fruits to around 3,000 families and communities.

Some of the communities supported by PSF were the Aeta community in Sitio, Villa Maria, Porac, Pampanga, in partnership with NLEX; and families in Brgy. Buli, Muntinlupa, in partnership with Asian Hospital Medical Center.

Other communities include Fr. Al’s Children Foundation, Inc.; Home for the Aged – Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES) where PSF provided the vegetables and fruits for their Christmas dinner. Together with One Meralco Foundation, PSF gave Noche Buena boxes for the service personnel as well as the indigent patients of the East Avenue Medical Center.

Together with Cardinal Santos Medical Center, PSF also reached out to the San Felipe Parish Community in Mandaluyong City; Archdiocese Manila Ministry of Person with Disability (AMMPD); and residents and staff of Lourdes Handicapped Center. PSF also supported the beneficiary communities of Caritas Manila and Radio Veritas.

The Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko movement is an MVP Group-wide initiative where selected communities receive Noche Buena packs from the companies and foundations under the leadership of Manuel V Pangilinan.