Metrobank, AFP distribute 'food packs' to indigents

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5, 2019): Metrobank, AFP distribute 'food packs' to indigents

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with Metrobank, through the GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI) and the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), distributed food packs to 10,000 poor families in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Each food pack was worth PHP1,000, military public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said in a message Tuesday.

Since 2011, the Metrobank Group, with their late chairman Dr. George SK Ty, through GTFI and MBFI, have been giving these "Bags of Blessings" to the underprivileged families in the country as a way of carrying out their tradition of sharing.

Since 2015, the AFP has been one with the GTFI on this tradition of sharing by giving gifts to the families.

Aside from being the partner of MBFI and GTFI in the “Bags of Blessings” program, the AFP also provides security and manpower before, during, and after the distribution of gift packs to the recipient-families.

This shows the commitment and cooperation of the AFP with the private sector in nation-building and peace development, Detoyato said.

“I express my appreciation and gratitude to GT Foundation, Inc. and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. for being our partners in the private sector in nation-building and peace development. Our partnership with the different sectors of our society, such as the business sector and the Filipino-Chinese community, is very helpful in creating a better future for our children,” AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said.

The City of Manila receives the most number of food packs with 600 recipient-families, while Quezon City and Marikina City have 500 recipient-families each.

The Joint Task Force National Capital Region assisted the foundation in giving the food packs.

In Luzon, the Northern Luzon Command joined the MBFI in giving the food packs to the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan.

Meanwhile, the Southern Luzon Command assisted in giving the food packs to the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Naga, while the Western Command assisted in the province of Palawan.

The Central Command assisted Metrobank in giving the gift packs to the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Eastern Samar, and Iloilo. The Eastern Mindanao Command and the Western Mindanao Command distributed the gift packs to the provinces of Davao, Surigao del Sur, and Zamboanga.

The AFP said it is one with the Filipino-Chinese community in celebrating the Chinese New Year by sharing happiness and prosperity to every member of the society, including the less fortunate and the underprivileged.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061039