BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Lopez-led geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) continues to extend its pampamilyang malasakit by conducting relief operations for its partner communities in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental that were affected by Typhoon Odette in December last year.
Over 2,700 households benefitted from the 260 sacks of 50 kilograms of rice that EDC provided to its host communities in Valencia, Negros Oriental; Bago City, Murcia, and Isabela in Negros Occidental. The donation to Isabela is in partnership with Dagiaw Experimental Theatre.
“We are doing our best to help ease the burden of our partner communities that were left homeless and hungry due to Typhoon Odette,” said Norreen G. Bautista, head of EDC’s CSR Team in Negros Island.
Before sending out bags of rice, EDC swiftly mobilized and was able to distribute 700 sets of relief packs composed of drinking water, canned goods, noodles, milk, coffee, used clothes, blankets, towels, mats, and clothes. The supplies were assembled by full-vaccinated EDC employee-volunteers and SIKAT scholars for the residents of Bais and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.
“It is heartwarming to see the exceptional Bayanihan spirit of our employees and scholars. Our Negros employees also voluntarily canceled our virtual Christmas party last December to divert the funds for the event amounting to P20,000 to augment our relief operations,” Bautista shared.
EDC likewise provided aid to other Odette-stricken areas in the Visayas region, particularly Bohol, Cebu, and Leyte, and helped its customers Negros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative, Inc. restore power in their respective areas.*