Globe Telecom Adopts Aklan for Rehab and Recovery Efforts

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is the Development Sponsor for Aklan, one of the 14 provinces which were severely damaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan when it hit the Philippines almost a year ago.

“Globe has long been committed to nation-building and to help our countrymen get back on their feet when disaster strikes.  Adopting Aklan is our response to the government’s call for private sector participation in the comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the country after Typhoon Haiyan,” said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications.

Globe supports the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR), which was created to supervise the efforts in the devastated sites. The company is tasked to fund and implement the “minimum musts” in the areas of education housing, livelihood and health, and other priority projects as well as to shepherd the overall strategic plan in Aklan and ensure its success.

Aklan has incurred P2.811 billion losses in infrastructure and agriculture which left a significant number of its residents not only homeless but without any livelihood to support themselves. Schools and health facilities were also destroyed.

Through the project “Bulig 4 Aklan,” Globe has committed to provide education, housing, health, and livelihood assistance to seven affected towns, namely:  Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, New Washington.

For education, Globe will build in two phases with the help of Habitat for Humanity and Ayala Foundation.  The first phase involves the construction of five “Noah’s Ark”-type classrooms that double as evacuation structures during calamities as they are equipped with three toilet and bath facilities as well as a kitchen.  One such structure will be built in each of the seven identified municipalities.

The second phase will be comprised of more than 30 regular but “built back better” classrooms to be funded from proceeds of the company’s enterprise-wide waste management program, as well as from parent-company Ayala Corporation.

On the other hand, Globe has started building 20 homes in New Washington in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and UT Global Foundation while 20 more are in the pipeline. Twenty-eight houses are also set to be constructed in Libacao on top of the 600 shelter kits to be distributed in the municipality before yearend. Earlier, Globe gave out 940 shelter kits in Madalag.  The shelter kit project is being undertaken by Globe together with the Inter Church Cooperation Organization.

Since the Department of Health has already approved the funding needed for the repair of the hospitals and health centers in the said areas, Globe decided to help by implementing the Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for children 3-6 years old in Madalag.

The SFP aims to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices of children enrolled in government pre-schools through food supplementation in a form of hot meals to be served during snack/meal time five days in a week for 120 days. This will be managed by the parents based on a prepared meal cycle using available indigenous food.

Livelihood is, likewise, being provided through Custom Made Crafts Center, a non-government organization involved in dye and abaca production and the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme aside from the distribution of Autoload Max retailer kits to 100 beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program in Malay.

Globe also added the public service component in its efforts by supporting the Gobyerno sa Baryo, an initiative that brings government services to the barrios.