BPI Foundation, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation give back to medical frontliners in Cebu City

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of BPI, officially launched its “Maagang Pamasko sa Panahon ng COVID-19” project for medical frontliners in Cebu, in collaboration with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI).

“Maagang Pamasko sa Panahon ng COVID-19” is a three-part project under BPI Foundation's Bayanihan program that aims to uplift the spirits and give hope to those most affected by the pandemic this holiday season.

To address the lack of food and PPEs, BPI Foundation pledged Php 8.2M to provide three meals a day for one week in October, November, and December for 449 healthcare workers in all 14 hospitals in Cebu City and one hospital in Mandaue. The 449 medical frontliners will also receive personal protective equipment (PPE) and half-face respirators to help them stay protected while battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Among those most affected by the ongoing health crisis are our healthcare workers who continue to be at the forefront of this war against COVID-19,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “To our dear medical frontliners, know that we appreciate your commitment to helping our fellow Filipinos survive this pandemic. Aligned with BPI's aspiration to build a better Philippines, we support and salute your courage, sacrifice, and hard work.”

This project is also in support of RAFI's Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness and Response (HDPR) program, a response & relief program for COVID-19.

For this partnership, RAFI has been in charge of on-the-ground coordination with the beneficiary hospitals, logistics, documentation, and quality assurance.

“Our healthcare workers have expressed their need for equipment to continue to protect them from COVID-19 and to allow them to continue serving the people who need their help,” said RAFI President Amaya Aboitiz-Fansler. “We hope that the meals, PPEs, and half-face respirators from BPI Foundation will not only allow them to do their jobs confidently and ensure that they're safe, but also show them that the community values their work and continues to stand behind them.”

Philippine College of Physicians - Central Visayas Chapter President Dr. Carmela Remotigue was also present to accept the donations on behalf of the medical frontliners. “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation and BPI Foundation for continuously supporting us in these challenging times,” she said.

Acknowledging that the pandemic has proven difficult for micro and small entrepreneurs in the country, BPI Foundation and RAFI also tapped several businesses providing food and catering services in the area who are also BPI clients, namely, Gourmet Secrets, Ma. Lina Catering, Melon Catering, and Orange Carinderia to prepare the hearty meals for the medical frontliners.

The two other runs of the “Maagang Pamasko sa Panahon ng COVID-19” project are also underway and will benefit public school students and poor families across the country.

To know more about BPI Foundation and its programs, visit www.bpifoundation.org.