Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Tulong Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility consortium composed of the companies and foundations under his leadership, turned over rescue boats, trucks, and a chopper to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to aid in their disaster preparedness as well as rescue operations.

The donations were made through the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and its logistics arm MetroPac Movers Inc. (MMI), Pacific Global One, and One Meralco Foundation (OMF), in coordination with the Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF).

“We strengthen our partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and reinforce our shared mission to serve the Filipino people. Amid the destructive calamities that worsened the situation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, our equipment donations aim to aid the AFP in their disaster preparedness and rescue operations,” Pangilinan said.

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For the search and rescue operation, PSF turned over two boats, four paddles, and 16 life vests to the Philippine Army. OMF also turned over two boats with four paddles and 16 life vests to the Philippine Navy. MVP, PSF, OMF, and MMI also donated four trucks for the various efforts of the AFP.

“This is just a testament to the MVP Group’s commitment to providing better services for all Filipino people. Through utilizing all the resources of our Group – from telco, power, water resources, and logistics among others, we are determined to build a better, more progressive future for our country,” Pangilinan said.

At the height of Typhoon Ulysses in November 2020, PSF together with OMF and MPIF also delivered three rescue boats to the Philippine Air Force which were quickly utilized for rescue operations of flood victims.

Through MPIC, Pacific Global One also donated a chopper to the AFP. The MMCF also strengthened its partnership with the AFP by enhancing its medical and treatment facilities.

“We shall ramp up our support beyond the usual military treatment facilities to encompass the organizational strengthening of the AFP’s health services,” Pangilinan said.

“One of the key pillars of the Tulong Kapatid is our disaster preparedness and relief efforts. We partner with different response teams – both from the private sector and the government in ensuring that we are able to help Filipinos nationwide. We thank the Armed Forces of the Philippines for enabling us to reach out to various communities across the country,” said Esther Santos, president, PLDT-Smart Foundation.

Pangilinan, together with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Public-Private Partnership for the organizational strengthening of the AFP military treatment facilities.

Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana PA and Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Allen T. Paredes PAF received the rescue equipment donations from the MVP Group.

Aside from the Group’s donation, Pangilinan also made his personal donation for the various disaster response and rescue efforts of the AFP.