Nestlé PH delivers Kasambuhay Kits to 1M families
As part of its P500-million Kasambuhay ng Pamilyang Pilipino program, Nestlé Philippines has completed the delivery of Kasambuhay Kits consisting of Nestlé products to one million families in 100 cities and municipalities nationwide. The company distributed the kits through various local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), as well as the Department of Agriculture in Regions 10 and 12.
The distribution is still ongoing in the National Capital Region, and other areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, including locations where Nestlé has a presence. Beneficiaries include 10,000 coffee farmers’ families in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat under the Nescafé Plan.
Caritas Manila, a non-profit organization that serves as the lead social service and development ministry of the Catholic Church in the country, is participating in the distribution.
In April, before launching Kasambuhay ng Pamilyang Pilipino, Nestlé Philippines started providing Nestlé products to various LGUs, as well as thousands of healthcare workers and other frontliners.
In Batangas where Nestlé has two factories, Gov. Hermilando Mandanas thanked the company for its program, saying it has consistently demonstrated a spirit of partnership and solidarity with the communities in which it operates, especially in times of calamity.
Taiwan donates PPEs
On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Representative Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) donated 500,000 pieces of surgical masks, 50,000 pieces of N95 masks, 20,000 isolation gowns and 5,000 personal protective gowns to the government of the Republic of the Philippines.
Taiwan’s donation was received by representatives from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office and the Department of Health of the Philippines and the handover was held at the International Cargo Terminal, Pair PAGSS Center, NAIA Expy upon the arrival of the materials on Thursday, 11 June 2020. These PPEs will soon be distributed to the Department of Health (DOH) and other Philippine government agencies and medical institutions to protect frontline health workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is Taiwan’s second wave of humanitarian assistance following a previous donation of 300,000 medical masks to the Philippines, along with more than a dozen donations from Taiwanese organizations and communities in the Philippines.
As the world continues struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s success experience and contributions have won widespread recognition by international community. Up to 8 June 2020, Taiwan had 443 confirmed cases; nearly 80% of them are imported cases, and no domestically transmitted infections in Taiwan for 56 consecutive days. Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Centre announced on June 7 that it would lift the restrictions on limiting the number of people who could participate in daily life and leisure events though people should continue to wear face masks if they were unable to keep social distancing.
Taiwan will continue sharing our experiences and working with the Philippines to contain the spread of COVID-19 to further enhance the welfare of our two peoples.
Ang-Hortaleza Foundation brings relief to Communities
The Hortaleza Group of Companies (HGC) headed by Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, through the Ang-Hortaleza Foundation (AHF), has endeavored to help people and communities survive the impact of COVID-19.
The first was done through their Community Food Aid “Tulong sa Pamilya.” This was done in cooperation with private and public organizations like the Government of Caloocan and Municipality of Pateros, Caritas Manila, One Meralco Foundation, Project Pearls, Federation of Persons with Disabilities, Kabataan Para sa Tribung Pilipino and several others. Under this AHF initiative, food bags and hygiene packs that contained various essentials were distributed to families in depressed areas across Luzon. Some of the communities that have benefited from the initiative are the Municipality of Plaridel, Bulacan where 500 families received food bags and hygiene packs; and Pasig City, where 500 families received food bags and hygiene packs. In Payatas, Quezon City, 25 cases of Barrio Fiesta Peanut Butter and 10 boxes of Barrio Fiesta broth cubes were distributed to 2000 families. To date, the “Tulong sa Pamilya” initiative of AHF has benefitted 25,745 families and 750 senior citizens.

Another initiative is the “Pa-Meryenda Bilang Pasasalamat” which targeted medical front liners as beneficiaries. Here, AHF provided “meryenda” packs of bread, jars of Barrio peanut butter and distilled water to front liners, particularly medical personnel, as small gestures of appreciation for their vital service. These were distributed to medical centers including the Pasig City Dialysis Center, Qualimed Hospital in San Jose Bulacan, Medical City, Medical Center Paranaque, East Avenue Medical Center, Valenzuela Medical Center and many others. To date, 2,305 front liners have received these “meryenda” packs.
Closer to home, HGC has also provided financial Aid to 763 agency-based employees who lost their means to earn.
FWD Life CSR to empower needy
FWD Life Insurance Corp., part of pan-Asian FWD Group, has launched corporate social responsibility initiatives designed to empower those in need.
These projects aim to help healthcare frontliners and farmers and informal workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April as the COVID-19 pandemic grew, FWD Insurance launched its charity drive to aid health care frontline workers of St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation (SLMFC). Through this project that raised a total of P1 million for every eligible FWD protection product bought in April generated a donation to the SLMCF to aid in its continuing need for personal protective equipment (PPEs).
Also in April, FWD Insurance reached out to farmers and informal workers displaced by the enhanced community quarantine(ECQ).
FWD employees held a fundraising drive for farmers and informal workers, two of the most vulnerable sectors during the ECQ, to cushion the economic burden caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The generated funds were used to purchase produce from farmers in Cordillera and provided to families of displaced informal workers in Metro Manila as relief packs.
In collaboration with AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp (AC Infra) and its partner charity, relief packs were also given to families residing along the FWD – Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX).