The Ayala Group has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide training to 300 mothers or heads of families affected by Typhoon Ulysses in two communities in Cagayan.
An initial 50 mothers from the towns of Lal-lo and Buguey, Cagayan, will be trained in cooking and baking and pastry skills. The remaining 250 participants will go through the training during the remainder of the year. The training will be under the mobile training program of TESDA, and will also cover the towns of Amulung, Solana, Enrile, Baggao and Alcala.
Typhoon Ulysses slammed Luzon in November last year, bringing floods to Northern Luzon.
āTESDA is truly grateful to the entire Ayala Group of companies as we work together to provide the needed assistance to calamity-affected communities and help them rebuild their lives through employment and livelihood opportunities,ā Isidro LapeƱa, director general of TESDA, said.
Ulysses ravaged many parts of the country, particularly northern Luzon. Still reeling from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic and a string of previous typhoons, many communities in Luzon, particularly the Cagayan Valley region, had to face massive flooding and loss of property and livelihood. Based on estimates, the typhoon resulted in damages amounting to roughly P20.3 billion.
āThis partnership with AC Energy and TESDA for a disaster resilience program in Cagayan is in keeping with our efforts to align with the needs of stakeholders, focusing on interventions that make the most impact in the lives of people,ā Ruel Maranan, president of Ayala Foundation said.
āAs Ayala Foundation celebrates its 60th anniversary, we affirm our faith in the Filipino as we all stand resilient in the face of challenges.ā
The Ayala Group was among the first private groups to mobilize relief operations in Cagayan. With Ayala Foundation taking the lead, the Ayala Group provided emergency relief support for 1,800 families or 9,000 individuals in Cagayan.
This support came in the form of food packs, installation of free call and internet stations in evacuation sites and delivery of essential medicines to the Provincial Health Office.
The group also provided support for learners and teachers in Cagayan, who are currently adapting to the new normal of education. Public school students and teachers from the towns of Lal-lo and Buguey received transistor radios, face masks, and Globe Home Prepaid WiFi kits.