LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has donated thousands of food packs and drinking water to residents affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest in different evacuation centers in Camalig, this province.
EDC employees distribute food packs and gallons of water to evacuees at the Anoling Elementary School and Bariw Elementary School in Camalig, Albay. (EDC photo)
The First Gen company donated 2,500 20-liter drinking water with refill and food packs containing rice, canned goods, coffee, powdered milk, and instant noodles.
The company also distributed non-food items such as soap, diapers, and detergent which were turned over to Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo and Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman by the EDC Bacon-Manito (Bacman) team.
More than 600 packs of diapers were distributed to affected children, according to EDC.
Eduardo Jimenez, head of the EDC Bacman Corporate Relations Department (CRD), led the turnover of donation and highlighted employee volunteerism in the organization during the relief operations.
“It is very important that affected families and those in the evacuation centers have access to clean drinking water and sufficient food supply. Our employees have gathered together and volunteered to visit the evacuation centers to distribute the goods and talk to them,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez added that aside from the basic needs, evacuees also need emotional support to ease their anxieties with the situation.
“Your EDC Kapamilya is always ready to support and assist our government units, as well as provide relief goods to augment the assistance from the government, private groups, and other organizations,” he added.
Partnership between EDC and the local government of Camalig as well as the provincial government were strengthened during the tragic Cessna incident search and retrieval operations early this year, Jimenez said.
"It was Alert Level 2 then, but for humanitarian reasons, the Albay province permitted EDC to continue with the search and retrieval operations. The Camalig mayor, as the incident commander together with the Albay Provincial Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), also showed undeniable support and directly worked with the team during those challenging times. This donation of relief goods, at the very least, is also EDC’s way of giving back to our stakeholders, our way of thanking them, and showing them that in times of need and distress, EDC can also be relied on,” Jimenez said.
Baldo and Lagman thanked the EDC for extending assistance.