Photos by Joesamel Tadlas
Staying true to its mission to aid in humanitarian assistance through its bayanijuan efforts, the Philippines’ leading carrier Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) has yet again partnered with Waves For Water to deliver water filters to Odette-stricken communities.
After severe tropical storm Odette made landfall and intensified into a category 5 super typhoon, it laid waste to 36 million homes and affected around 17.8 million people in the Philippines. With the destruction of essential infrastructure in its wake, people’s basic necessities, especially water, were at stake; giving a possible rise in cases of life-threatening dehydration and a spread of waterborne diseases.
Global humanitarian aid organization Waves For Water was one of the first responders that immediately deployed water filtration systems to affected communities. To aid Waves For Water in alleviating this crisis, CEB has worked hand-in-hand with the organization by safely transporting these water filters, across six affected provinces, including Surigao del Norte where the hardest-hit Siargao is located. The filters make it possible to drink from a water source without the dangers of bacteria, cysts, or protozoa passing through.
“It has always been part of our Filipino Bayanihan spirit to assist in relief operations wherever we can. We all know Siargao was one of the destinations severely affected by the Super Typhoon Odette and we prioritized our response with the immediate transport of essential goods especially water treatment needs of the community.” said Michael Ivan Shau, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Cebu Pacific.
Waves For Water is an organization grounded on giving immediate, long term, and sustainable clean water solutions to those who need them most. With its emphasis on sustainability, the filters have the technology that helps minimize logistics costs thereby making it the most sustainable way of providing clean water. This has also resulted to the ability of eliminating single waste plastic; a goal that the airline has also endeavored to integrate in its operations.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support for Waves For Water Philippines. We wouldn’t have been able to respond so efficiently without support from individual donors, private sector contributions, our amazing network of partner organizations and clean water couriers, and our official airline partner Cebu Pacific who has been supporting us since our Rolly/ Ulysses response,” said Waves For Water Philippines Country Director, Jenica Dizon.
To date, CEB has flown over two (2) tons (1,447 units) worth of water filters, free-of-charge. As rehabilitation efforts continue, the airline remains committed to pursue its bayanijuan initiatives whenever needed across its widest domestic network.
