QUEZON CITY -- The Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association (AFPMBAI), in support of the disaster relief operations of the uniformed personnel after the devastation brought by typhoon Odette, donated portable power generators last 22 December 2022.
Through the coordination with the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the generator sets will be transported via C-130 planes along with other relief goods, equipment and essentials being ferried to the affected areas.
Typhoon Odette made nine landfalls and as of this writing, left 375 people dead, 56 missing, and 500 more injured before it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on December 18. The ordeal isn’t over even as the typhoon left the PAR. In its wake, about 227 cities/municipalities suffered power outages and so far, only nine percent or 21 cities/municipalities have been restored. Disaster management officials say it is estimated that some cities may be without access to electricity for up to three months.
In response, the AFPMBAI fast-tracked the donation of portable power generators to its member agencies: the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and PAF), Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
During the handover event, held at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Maj Gen Connor Anthony D Canlas Sr, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force received the donation from Maj Gen Rizaldo B Limoso PA (ret), AFPMBAI President and CEO.
In his speech, Maj Gen Limoso said this initiative aims to impart a responsive social services impact to those affected by the typhoon, “Though this disastrous event may have dampened our spirits seeing the deplorable state it has left our country, we pray that this humble Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of the AFPMBAI to aid in the disaster management efforts of our members from the uniformed personnel, be a reminder that while there is much to do in picking up the pieces to rebuild the nation, there is also much to live for, and to continue being hopeful for,” Gen Limoso stated, “And for as long as the uniformed personnel continue selflessly serving, sacrificing to protect and safeguard the lives of the Filipinos, so shall the AFPMBAI continue rallying behind them in staunch service and to continue finding ways to plow back meaningful CSR projects to our members,” he added.
Through its CSR programs, the AFPMBAI has been at the forefront of providing CSR and social services to its members—an initiative that sets it apart from other uniformed services’ financial institutions.
During the height of the COVID19 pandemic, the AFPMBAI was one of the few financial institutions that provided COVID-19 mitigating and beneficial medical equipment and supplies to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, to include the Veterans Memorial Hospital where it donated ventilators, ambulances, polymerase testing kits, antigen cooled storages, sterilizers, and other essential supplies needed to combat the virus. (AFPMBAI)
