JUST in time for the National Fire Prevention Month, Ayala Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to strengthen partnership and bolster support to the country's firefighters through the Saludo sa Serbisyo program.
Present during the MOU signing on Thursday, March 24, were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Nestor Quinsay Jr., BFP Chief Louie Puracan, Ayala Corporation President and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Public Affairs Group Head Rene Almendras, Corporate Governance Group Head Solomon Hermosura, Security and Crisis Management Head Manny Bautista, and other officers from the Ayala group and the BFP.
"Aside from the Saludo sa Serbisyo program, the corporation has been providing educational assistance to children of soldiers killed in action or totally incapacitated while in the line of duty," Año said.
"Since 1988, Ayala and other industry leaders through the Hero Foundation were able to support the education of the children of our fallen soldiers. Ganoon na po natin katagal kasangga ang Ayala, libo-libo na pong sundalo ang kanilang natulungan," he added.
Ayala Corporation and Ayala Land each give a donation of P2.5 million yearly. The educational stipend from the foundation helps orphaned students pay for school-related expenses. With the help of the private sector, Hero Foundation has supported and served a total of 2,702 orphan scholars since 1988.
Meanwhile, through the Saludo sa Serbisyo program, the country's uniformed personnel receive expanded access to the group’s products and services, enabling them to pick the best support they need in every milestone of their lives.
"The fire service is one of the riskiest professions. While our men sacrifice their safety, at the end of the day, what they earn is just enough for food and necessities for the family," Puracan said. "The Saludo sa Serbisyo Program supports this cause. This wide array of products and activities can help our firefighters plan, invest and be more responsible with their resources."
Saludo sa Serbisyo provides offers on housing and vehicles, and it hosts a venue for financial education and livelihood training, as well as health and wellness caravans. It also hopes to provide employment opportunities in various business units across the Ayala Group to BFP retirees and their qualified dependents.
"Let me take this opportunity to express the Ayala Group’s deepest thanks to the brave men and women of the Bureau of Fire Protection for your selfless service. We thought that it would be appropriate to pay tribute to our courageous firefighters during Fire Prevention Month throughthe Saludo Sa Serbisyo program," Zobel said. "With the signing of this MOU, we mark this day as Firefighter Appreciation Day for the entire Ayala Group."
In previous years, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have also signed up to Saludo sa Serbisyo. (PR)