BAT Philippines Taps Bacolod NGO for Yolanda Rehab Project

Source from:  Manila Bulletin 09/29/2014

British American Tobacco (Philippines) Ltd. (BATP) has signed a memorandum of agreement with Bacolod-based Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc. (NVC) for the implementation of almost P10 million worth of livelihood and infrastructure projects in three Typhoon Yolanda-hit barangays in Biliran, Leyte, and Eastern Samar.

Signing the MOA were BAT General Manager James Michael Lafferty and NVC president Milagros Kilayko, with BAT Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Head Roberto Eugenio, NVC Trustees Theresa Lacson, Mariel Tolentino, and Mary Ann Mirasol, and NVC Marketing Coordinator Josephine Ruiz serving as witnesses.

Under the agreement, BAT will provide funding for various livelihood and infrastructure projects in Brgy. Catmon in Naval, Biliran; Brgy. Garawon in Hernani, Eastern Samar; and Brgy. Bagacay in Tacloban, Leyte.

The livelihood aspect of the project will come in the form of 75 fishing boats and 125 fishing nets for fishermen who lost their boats, 23 tricycles and pedicabs, and sari-sari store capitalization.For the infrastructure part, BAT and NVC will rehabilitatesome vital infrastructures, repair houses, and build multi-purpose centers in the three identified communities.

The various project components were identified following comprehensive profiling and needs assessment of the three barangays by NVC personnel and volunteers.

Lafferty said BATP chose NVC as a partner because of its good track record and high credibility.

"It took us a while to find a suitable partner because we wanted to do things right. The almost P10 million that we'll be using for these projects came from donations from BAT employees all over the world, which our UK head office matched. We want to ensure that our employees' money would be put to good use, in communities that really need our help. NVC's tried-and-tested methodologies in profiling and assessment, as well as its track record in successfully implementing community-building projects give us confidence that we indeed have the right partner in helping rebuild the lives of Yolanda survivors," he said.

For her part, Kilayko said BATP was a welcome addition to the NVC family, as the almost P10-million donation would go a long way in helping uplift the lives of those in need, especially in Yolanda-stricken areas.

"NVC was founded four years ago with the vision of harnessing the power of private citizens to create positive and lasting change in their communities and in the country. We believe that all of us private individuals and corporate citizens, if we pool our resources, talents, and skills, will be able to forge a better future for the next generation of Filipinos. We welcome BATP as our newest partner in making this vision a reality," she said. Enditem