Extending immediate relief to Habagat-hit communities
In the wake of heavy southwest monsoon rains (Habagat), One Meralco Foundation (OMF), alongside Meralco employee-volunteers and local government partners, mobilized rapid disaster response operations across vulnerable communities in Bulacan and Cavite.
With severe flooding and high tides disrupting their daily lives and rendering roads impassable, families find it difficult to leave their homes and secure basic necessities. Through OMF and its partners in disaster response such as Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), Meralco business centers, Meralco's animal welfare initiative CATropa, and local governments, the initiative reached 2,500 affected families across the municipalities of San Miguel, Balagtas, Calumpit, and Hagonoy in Bulacan, as well as Bacoor City and Tanza in Cavite, and San Mateo in Rizal. Distribution efforts will continue over the coming days.
Partnering with the Balagtas municipal government led by Mayor Andy "Andrews" Santiago, OMF and the Meralco Balagtas Business Center waded through deep waters aggravated by high tide to deliver food packs directly to the doorsteps of residents stranded in Barangay San Juan.
"Maraming salamat po sa One Meralco Foundation sa inyong ipinagkaloob na relief goods para sa ating mga kababayan," Mayor Santiago said. "Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga pamilyang nangangailangan. Maraming salamat po sa inyong malasakit at pakikiisa."
In Hagonoy, Bulacan, a joint relief effort was made possible through a resident-led initiative, spearheaded by community coordinator Gelvien Montalla who reached out to OMF online to seek help for his community. OMF's swift response brought immediate relief to families whose livelihoods were disrupted by the deep floods. Lilibeth Roberto, a single mother caring for her child with a disability, shared how the flooding halted the operations of her small eatery. "Malaking bagay [itong relief] dahil wala akong kabuhayan ngayon," said Roberto.
Relief operations also helped evacuation sites and frontline responders. In Bacoor City, Cavite, OMF and the Meralco Bacoor Business Center provided relief packs to evacuated families from Barangays Aniban 1, Aniban 2, and Ligas 1, as well as municipal traffic enforcers whose own homes were flood-submerged. Additional food supplies were also turned over to Bacoor City Mayor Strike B. Revilla for distribution across other affected barangays. Meanwhile, OMF and Meralco Rosario Business Center also worked with the local government of Tanza, Cavite, led by Mayor Archangelo Matro, to help distribute relief packs to affected residents.
OMF also worked with the local government of Calumpit, with Vice Mayor Zacarias "Doc Zar" Candelaria joining the efforts with the Meralco Malolos Business Center. In Barangay Balungao in Calumpit, OMF, with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and CATropa, also provided relief packs with rice for families and supplies for pets, with volunteers wading through floods to reach out to those in need.
MGEN volunteers from its MTerra Solar and MGEN Renewables Bulacan Solar also distributed relief packs to disaster-hit residents in San Miguel, Bulacan. In Marikina City, residents of Brgy. Guinayang also received relief packs from OMF and Meralco Marikina Business Center.
The initiative is part of OMF's broader disaster response efforts to deliver immediate relief to affected communities.
"In times of disaster, our responsibility to communities extends far beyond restoring physical light—it is about restoring hope. As heavy rains and the Habagat disrupt lives across the nation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to stand by our fellow Filipinos when they need us most," OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao said.