Sanofi, partners to build houses for Yolanda survivors

MANILA, Philippines - Sanofi, together with the rest of the France Philippines United Action, an alliance of French companies in the Philippines, recently partnered with the Philippine Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity to build 140 houses at a resettlement site in Daanbantayan, Cebu for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

The project, with a total budget of $2 million, will also provide for the construction of health and community facilities, livelihood support to the affected families, and disaster risk reduction programs.

Apart from Sanofi, other French organizations supporting the project include the French Chamber Philippines, CCE, Lafarge, the Philippines France Business Council, Schneider Electric, L’Oreal, and Total.

Sanofi, through the Sanofi Espoir Foundation, is donating 500,000 euros for the construction of a health center in the relocation site.  

“This is in line with Sanofi’s commitment to make healthcare more accessible to the typhoon survivors and the Filipino people,” said lawyer Darwin Mariano, Sanofi-Aventis Phils. public affairs and communications director.

“We know that this will be a more sustainable contribution for the families affected by this disaster. Hospitals and health centers in the area were either completely destroyed or heavily damaged and the rehabilitation of the health infrastructure will be just as important as rebuilding homes,” he said.

Aside from building health facilities, Sanofi is also planning to initiate disaster preparedness trainings for healthcare personnel to improve their emergency health response skills.