Del Monte employees bring aid to 'Sendong' victims

BUGO, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines – Employees of Del Monte Philippines and their children have joined relief efforts for the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

The employees are from the company’s pineapple cannery in Barangay Bugo, some 20 kilometers away from the areas hit by massive flooding in this city.

“We at Del Monte are one with the community in moving forward from this tragedy. The company as well as its volunteers are here to help,” Del Monte Philippines Mindanao operations group head Manny Nisperos said.

Four teams of five to 10 volunteers each have been conducting relief missions in Barangays Consolacion, Macanhan, Carmen, Balulang, Kauswagan and Macasandig. 

Some 100 employees of the company, whose houses were destroyed by the floods, were also given assistance. Several families were relocated and received food packs, medicines, clothes and beddings.

Del Monte’s fire crews have been delivering at least 29,500 liters of water to the affected residents everyday. The company also installed four water-refilling stations outside its plant gate. 

A medical team gives free medical treatment and supply medicines in nine evacuation centers. Nurses also visit homes to attend to the sick.

At Del Monte’s cannery headquarters, teams pack and load relief goods for delivery or collect donations.

Volunteers from Del Monte’s agri-headquarters in Camp Phillips in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, meanwhile, help in cleaning the houses of flood victims.