As the rainy months come and go in the country, oftentimes severe flooding affects provinces in the whole nation. Traces of the multiple typhoons affecting the country reflect its rampage all throughout time.
From Luzon, Visayas, to Mindanao, M Lhuillier hears the cry of those in need and sends immediate relief. Through the Social & Community Outreach Project called “May Masisilungan Ka”, multi-purpose tents were handed by OPEC Capital over to various key officials of the six (6) different barangays in Metro Manila where it aimed to provide shelter for important events in the barangay, and also relieves heat from the sun and at the same time safeguards the residents from rain regardless of whatever occasion.
Meanwhile, OPEC Green Valley went to revisit the families affected by Typhoon Ulysses and Super Typhoon Rolly that struck most of barangays in Amulung, Cagayan, and to turn-over the tents that were supposed to be given during the relief operations on the previous year, the delay took place due to some transportation restrictions and Covid-19 limitations.
Beyond the provision of tents, the most basic needs of giving consumable relief goods were also provided by M Lhuillier to numerous typhoon victims. From July to December 2021, more than a thousand families in different provinces around the country received goods. OPEC T’nalak, through its initiative, provides relief to the areas in South Cotabato that were damaged by Typhoon Dante where a total of one hundred seven (107) families benefited from the donation drive. OPEC Lakbai Norte went through the furthest island up north Cebu, the Malapascua Island, just to give relief goods to the families affected by flash floods.
On December 15, 2021, a complete surprise struck the entire Visayas and Mindanao regions. Unroofed houses, uprooted trees, broken electrical posts, ruined plantation, no signal, shortage in water, loss of electricity, loss of internet connection and worn out business establishments were the aftermath of Typhoon Odette which had to be dealt with by the residents a few days before Christmas. As far as most could remember, it has been one of the strongest typhoons that hit the country during the year.
Amid the help from the government and from different NGOs, and private sectors, the majority of the typhoon victims still needed assistance due to their stay in evacuation centers and temporary shelters. M Lhuillier, through its OPEC teams, gives another helping hand.OPEC Dagyang and OPEC Lakbai Norte generously brought bags of goods to the multiple coastal barangays from the municipalities of San Joaquin, Unisan Island Province of Guimaras, and Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where over one thousand (1,000) relief packs were handed over. Apart from relief goods, OPEC Lakbai Norte also distributed tents to beneficiaries in Olango Island whose houses sustained extreme structural damages from the typhoon. The tents were meant to be used as a temporary roof or shelter to keep heat and rain from further destroying what was left of the residents in Olango.
One of the residents of Unisan Island even shared that before the typhoon struck, the community of Unisan Island had already evacuated to the main Island to seek shelter. They were surprised when they came back that their home was ruined by the typhoon. “Our house was totally damaged and only a toilet bowl was left. However, we are still thankful that we are safe,” she shared.
M Lhuillier does not only reach out to those affected by the disastrous typhoon but as well as to the unfortunate victims of fire. With the help of different OPEC clusters, relief operations in different regions of the country were conducted.
Representatives of OPEC Sawot brought aid to fire victims in Toledo City where five families and twenty-one individuals lost their homes due to a fire that hit their neighborhood. The OPEC team gave out grocery packages to all the victims. The employees also pitched in and donated their used and unused clothes to help them start again.
OPEC Kalilintad Agus, also extended a helping hand to Lanao Region. While OPEC Zambasulta, was able to help hundreds of families who lost their homes due to two massive fires that hit different areas in Zamboanga City in a span of three months. The teams brought relief packs that contained basic commodities and handed them over to the victims.
There is no island that M Lhuillier can’t cross when it comes to giving aid to those in need. The team of OPEC Lakbai Norte, left mainland Cebu and sailed to Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan to deliver aid to residents that were affected by the fire which happened last September 2021 that destroyed the homes of eleven (11) families.
The phrase “Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino” has a lot of definitions for M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. It reflects the core mission of the country’s leading non-bank financial institution: connecting Filipino families across the regions and the world by offering reliable financial services. But aside from that, it also demonstrates the company’s quest of bridging the gap between Filipinos and a better community.