Clean water for typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines - Temasek Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization based in Singapore, has tapped Jollibee Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC), for its donation of 500 units of Hyflux water filter kits to communities affected by typhoon Ondoy.

Jollibee Foundation worked with Caritas Manila and the Antipolo Social Action Center in selecting the beneficiaries with the most need for potable water. Sixteen public elementary and high schools in the municipalities of Cainta, Cardona and Teresa in Rizal province were identified as beneficiaries, the total student population of which is more than 30,000.

A simple turnover ceremony was held recently at the Jollibee Plaza attended by representatives of JFC, Jollibee Foundation, Caritas Manila, Antipolo Social Action Center, Department of Education-Rizal Division and the principals of the 16 school beneficiaries.

“As part of our mission in Jollibee Foundation, we continuously find ways to help our fellowmen in times of calamities. This entails working with local and international partners like Temasek Foundation. The kind of water filter kits that they donated is efficient and convenient in providing the beneficiaries with clean drinking water,” Jollibee Foundation president Grace Tan Caktiong said.

Temasek Foundation CEO Benedict Cheong “applauded the Jollibee Foundation for its tireless efforts to help the community during this period.” He hoped that these water filter kits donated by their organization can “help families begin their journey toward recovery.”

JFC corporate engineering’s Edgar Ragasa said “the Hyflux Water Filter Kit is a miniature version of the standard water filtering apparatus used in water filtering stations. It is only the size of a normal notebook thus it is very portable. It also does not need any electricity and water pressure to reduce water turbidity and bacteria, which makes it very useful for schools,” he noted. The water filter kit has an average filtration capacity of 2,500 liters. Daily filtration ranges from 10 to 15 liters per day.

“We are extremely grateful for the assistance provided by Temasek Foundation through Jollibee Foundation. With these water filter kits, we are assured that we can provide clean drinking water to our schoolchildren, teachers and school personnel,” Fr. Bienvenido Miguel Jr. of the Antipolo Social Action Center said.