Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Oil firm to launch anti-poverty drive
IN RESPONSE to the call of Malacañang to address the growing poverty and hunger in the country, an independent oil player Flying V will forge a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would provide funding for the government's livelihood assistance and feeding program.
The MOA signing will take place next week at Malacañang that will involve its partner institutions, namely, Rotary International District 3800 (RI D-3800), Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), said Flying V chairman Ramon Villavicencio.
Villavicencio said the company would allocate each month funds to feed 30,000 families in depressed areas identified by LUB and NAPC where livelihood and values formation training will also be conducted.
RI D-3800 will handle food distribution and supplemental services, such as medical and dental.
"The company is not concerned with politics. The company recognizes the national problem, and it simply wants to help, and help now," he said.
Villavicencio stressed that Flying V initiated the project as part of its social and humanitarian program.
Flying V director for special projects Paul Tanjutco, in a separate statement, hoped that by continuing to lead the way, the company might set an example for others to follow with their own programs that would help the underprivileged.
NAPC secretary Domingo Panganiban, for his part, expressed appreciation to the move of Flying V, stating that the partnership with the oil firm will greatly boost its current social and humanitarian activities.
The NAPC-LUB Team had identified 10 priority communities in Metro Manila where the distribution activities will commence on April 30.
LUB secretary Edgardo Pamintuan also welcomed the launching of the program, stating that Flying V's initiative brings closer the realization of the broad alliance being envisioned to ensure that services are delivered swiftly and adequately to the people.
He said the program is patterned after the "food-for-school" program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, wherein the beneficiaries will have to attend skills and values seminars to be entitled to the food aid.
"We will not be just giving out fish, so to speak, but teach them how to fish," he said.
Aside from providing skills training, Pamintuan said the beneficiaries would be linked to livelihood, microfinance and job programs of both government and the private sector. (MSN/Sunnex)
