Chevron Philipines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, together with William Tan Enterprises Inc. (WTEI), recently donated 50 fishing boats to typhoon-affected families in Palawan.
The fully refurbished and restored boats, which are worth P1 million, were mechanized with diesel and gasoline engines to improve productivity, safety and efficiency. The turnover ceremony was done in Barangay 4 Sitio Umalad, Roxas, Palawan.
WTEI and Caltex also provided free fuel to the beneficiaries to get them started. With the donation of Caltex and WTEI, the residents can safely resume earning their livelihood through fishing and tourism.
The donation was made possible through the Caltex Biyaheng Pagtulong promo held earlier this year. The fuel up-to-donate scheme had Caltex and its network of retailers and marketers donating P1 for every liter of fuel purchased. The proceeds went to help typhoon-stricken communities get back on their feet.
Last December 17, Typhoon Odette made its 9th landfall over the municipality of Roxas in Palawan, causing severe damage to protected areas and displacing more than 3,500 families in the province. It also destroyed boats that were used to serve tourists in the area and fishing boats in the province of Palawan.
“We understand how devastating it can be to lose one’s main source of income, especially due to events that are out of our control such as natural calamities. It is our hope that the fisherfolk in Roxas, Palawan will be able to recover their losses caused by the typhoon through this donation,” said Billy Liu, country chairman of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI).
“Giving back to our host community is a core value of our company, and we always want to do it in a sustainable way. Donating boats to help provide a means of livelihood — it’s the proverbial ‘give them a fishing pole instead of a fish’ approach to helping the community build their dignity. We want to extend help and to make safety a priority for our community,” said William Tan, president of WTEI.
CPI remains committed to its mission of helping improve the lives of the communities where they operate. It continues to lend a helping hand and support those badly in need of assistance. Aside from the island of Palawan, Caltex Biyaheng Pagtulong conducted relief efforts in Bohol, Cebu, Surigao, Butuan and other typhoon-stricken areas.
CPI has since established a long tradition of donations to charitable institutions and other nongovernment organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross. The company has also immediately mobilized aid and relief donations in millions during typhoons Ondoy, Yolanda and Ulysses, to name a few.
