To help ease food supply concerns in its host communities and neighboring barangays amidst disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, JG Summit Petrochemicals Group (JGSPG) distributed food aid to various local government units across Batangas City, as well as in the Municipalities of Bauan, San Pascual, and San Jose in Batangas province.
JGSPG, whose petrochemical manufacturing complex is located in Batangas City, tapped into the Php100 million fund earmarked by the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) to send much needed food items to a total of 70 barangays across the four Batangas LGUs. GBF, in announcing the fund at the onset of the quarantine, identified two target key beneficiaries: frontline health providers serving in national and local public hospitals, and the communities where the group’s various business units operate.
JGSPG’s Government Affairs Team immediately organized the aid effort through coordination with GBF. Over the course of three weeks during the quarantine, two tranches of food aid were distributed.
Between March 25 and 31, 5,680 families in 42 barangays received food packs that included Great Taste 3-in-1 instant coffee, Nissin Cup noodles, Presto Cream sandwich cookies, Magic Flakes crackers and Refresh bottled water, which are manufactured by JGSPG’s sister company Universal Robina Corporation.
Recipient communities were residents of JGSPG’s three host barangays, Simlong, Pinamucan Ibaba, and Pinamucan Proper; two other adjacent communities, Pinamucan Silangan and Malibayo; other communities that make up the Solid Baybay Barangay Cluster; and residents in the towns of Bauan, San Pascual, and San Jose. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police in Batangas City, themselves frontliners in the battle against COVID-19, also received food aid.
On April 6, JGSPG distributed the second tranche of aid to an additional 28 barangays that make up the Poblacion Cluster, in response to the letter of appeal of Barangay Poblacion 20 Chairman Jessie Fetalvero, the President of the Poblacion Cluster of Barangays, who requested assistance to help ease the food shortage. Each member barangay of the Poblacion Cluster, as well as JGSPG host communities Barangays Simlong and Pinamucan Ibaba, and neighboring barangays including Pinamucan Proper, Mabacong, and San Isidro, all received sacks of rice.
In his letter of thanks, Chairman Fetalvero conveyed his heartfelt gratitude for JGSPG’s “kindness and compassion to the plight of Batangueños in these trying times,” and added that the aid was a big help to their constituents. Messages of appreciation were also posted on social media by Chairmen Bien Mercado of Barangay 21 and Deo Aquino of Barangay 17, whose units are part of the Poblacion Cluster.
On behalf of the entire Sangguniang Barangay of Simlong, Chairman Rudy Mendoza sent a message of gratitude for the aid received by his constituents saying, “Maraming salamat sa tulong ninyong ibinigay sa aming barangay. Natanggap namin ang bigas at groceries na ibinigay ninyo.” He added, “Buong puso kaming officials, mula sa akin at lahat ng kagawad, na nagpapasalamat sa inyong mapagkalingang tulong. Mabuhay po kayo.”
Chairman Ayen Antido of Barangay Mabacong said, “Napakalaking biyaya po ito sa aking mga kabarangay. Kita ko po ang laking tuwa nila ng ipinagkaloob namin ito sa kanila.”
Chairman Reynaldo Doce, head of Barangay Tabangao Aplaya, extended his office’s appreciation for the aid received through a letter of thanks sent on the Barangay Council’s behalf. It said, “Kami po ay malugod na nagpapasalamat sa agarang tulong na ipinaabot ng inyong butihing tangapan, sa naapektuhan ng lockdown dito sa aming lugar. Muli po, maraming salamat.”
Chairman Ruel Arce of Barangay Pinamucan Ibaba, one of JGSPG’s host communities, acknowledged the assistance by saying, “Kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa tanggapan ng JG Summit sa lahat ng donasyon na naipagkaloob nyo sa amin. Ito po ay malaking tulong para sa lahat ng residente dito sa aming barangay.”
In his message, Captain Manolo Macatangay of Barangay Ambulong said, “Taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa GBF at JG Summit sa mga tulong na binigay nila, malaking bagay po iyon lalong lalo na po sa ating mga frontliners. God Bless Gokongwei Brothers Foundation and JG Summit.”
In partnership with GBF, JGSPG was able to reach out once again to its host and neighboring barangays, and other local government partners, helping stakeholder communities cope through provision of immediate food aid at a time of great need.
Despite the logistical challenges, a deep sense of satisfaction pervaded the team that led the distribution efforts. JGSPG’s Community Relations Officer Arnel Paclibon described being an instrument in alleviating the burden of neighbors in this time of crisis as “one of my proudest moments as part of the JG Summit Petrochem family.” And for Public Relations & Security Affairs Officer Rey Nelson Amparo, there could be no better work than being of service to others.
Both Arnel and Rey, together with the rest of the team, were particularly proud that JGSPG, in partnership with GBF, once again stood up and lent a helping hand to neighboring communities in need.
For more information on the JG Summit Petrochemicals Group, visit jgspetrochem.com