As of May 31, 2020, the “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” campaign of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation (AFI), with the support of its sponsors and partners, raised over Php 400 million in cash donations and pledges. The project to date has fed over 750K Filipino families in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
Distribution of food packs to 5,067 households in Southville 7, Calauan, Laguna
The cash was used to purchase food and basic necessities such as rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits, milk, coffee, shampoo, soap, detergent, and vitamins. Also part of the campaign was the distribution of hot meals to families in need and frontliners in hospitals and partner cities.
ABS-CBN Foundation also distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hygiene kits to over 80 hospitals and frontliner organizations in NCR and various provinces.
The campaign started last March 15, 2020 when the government first implemented the enhanced community quarantine to control the spread of COVID-19. The Lopez group of companies which includes ABS-CBN provided the seed money with a donation of Php 100 million.
AFI’s Managing Director, Susan Afan, expressed her gratitude to the network and its many donors. “Because of ABS-CBN and its partners, working hand in hand with us, we were able to scale up and help thousands of families. So it was extremely successful”.
The initiative was launched to complement the relief efforts of Local Government Units during this health crisis. The members of the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP) also assisted in the distribution.
Pantawid ng Pag-ibig Phase 2: Isang Daan. Isang Pamilya.
As Filipino families continue to struggle with the loss of jobs across different industries, ABS-CBN Foundation now moves to the second phase of the campaign with the aim of reaching a million families by the end of August 2020.
“This is the first time we’re having a ‘phase 2’. Because, normally, ‘pag mayroong kalamidad, like Taal or Yolanda, meron ‘tong katapusan. (When there are calamities, we know that it will end.) Usually, after distributing relief, we then go to the rehabilitation stage,” explained Afan.
“In this situation, unfortunately, because wala pang cure sa COVID and because hindi natin alam (kung kailan ang katapusan), patuloy na may mga industriyang talagang apektado, to the point that they have to close down, and so, maraming unemployment. Yung problema ng gutom even becomes more pronounced. Ang kalaban natin ngayon, hindi lamang COVID, kung hindi, gutom ng ating mga kababayan na walang trabaho at walang mapapakain sa kanilang mga pamilya.”
(Because there is still no cure for COVID and because we don’t know when this health crisis will end, industries will continuously be affected to the point that they have to close down and unemployment goes up. The hunger problem even becomes more pronounced. COVID isn’t just the enemy here. We’re also fighting against hunger and unemployment, Filipinos not being able to put food on their families’ tables.)
The target of the second phase is to encourage individual donors to donate at least Php 100 or USD 2 which could feed one family. “Ang Pantawid ng Pag-ibig phase two will be focused on individuals, ordinary Filipinos being able to help other Filipinos. So now, we’re really counting and hoping that 10 million Filipinos will join us in our fight against hunger.” Afan reiterates.
To do this, the foundation plans to partner with digitally inclined businesses like financial technology companies and ride-hailing apps that could provide their users the option and convenience of donating through their mobile gadgets. Initial partners include GCash, Lazada, and HSBC. The project also intends to work with artists, communities, religious and non-religious organizations, and other private companies that can encourage their employees, members, and more individuals to support this endeavor.
“Everyone can join this movement,” said Paul Mercado, Head of AFI Marketing Department, as he highlights the Filipino’s bayanihan spirit. “If you know in your heart that you can do something for our fellow Filipinos, then be part of this movement. All it takes is compassion and generosity for those in great need.”
For the campaign’s second phase, AFI has also partnered with WeCARE (We Connect, Act and Respond to Emergencies), a community-based emergency response platform, to help connect the Foundation to hospitals in need of PPEs.
While AFI will still be coordinating with Local Government Units for distribution of goods, the Foundation will now be partnering with various religious and socio-civic organizations as well to help in delivering relief goods.
“Some of us are lucky because we have jobs that can pay bills and buy food for our families. There are Filipino families who, unfortunately, don’t even know where they will get their next meal,” said Mercado.
According to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) early May, around 4.2 million Filipino families (16.7%) experienced hunger at least once in the past three months due to lack of food. This is nearly double the 8.8% (2.1 million families) involuntary hunger survey in December 2019.
“But we can change that,” added Mercado. “With as little as Php 100, you can help feed a family with rice and a simple viand. If we can invite other equally able friends or family members to do the same, we can save a lot of people from hunger.”
“We keep going,” said Afan. “Hanggang may nagdo-donate at nagtitiwala sa ABS-CBN Foundation, kung anuman ang ibinibigay sa atin ay patuloy nating ibabahagi sa ating mga kapamilyang nangangailangan”.
(While there are still donors and people who trust ABS-CBN Foundation, we will continue to help Filipinos in need.)
ABS-CBN Foundation accepts donations through bank deposits to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc – Sagip Kapamilya bank accounts: BPI Peso Account 3051-11-55-88, Metrobank Peso Account 636-3-636-08808-1, Security Bank Peso Account 000003312430-0, BDO Peso Account 0039301-14199, and BDO Dollar Account 1039300-81622. Donations are also accepted through ABS-CBN Foundation website, Cebuana Lhuillier, PayPal, Pass it Forward, GCash, Lazada, and HSBC.
For more information, visit www.pantawidngpagibig.com.