Car companies take ‘emergency detour’ to ‘Yolanda’ victims
One of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall ravaged central Philippines the past weekend. Almost immediately after the initial damage and casualty reports from the field came trickling in, the local car industry went into high gear and redirected much of their corporate social responsibility efforts to assist in relief operations.
After some prodding, many car companies did reveal to Inquirer Motoring their plans—albeit some were still sketchy as of press time—for the following crucial days.
At least two auto firms, a German marque and a Japanese brand, are already planning on canceling their Christmas parties and the rest of their November-December events to help raise funds for typhoon victims. An American brand distributor has mobilized its dealer network nationwide to request for relief goods for the typhoon victims. Executives of another German brand are now doing volunteer work for Red Cross.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC), which donated P1 million Monday afternoon to the Philippine National Red Cross, is planning to cancel some of its November and December events to focus on raising funds for the typhoon victims.
“Events for November and December that we can still cancel will be canceled to help sustain the typhoon victims,” said Arlan Reyes, MMPC’s advertising and promotions manager. In October, MMPC donated P500,000 to the Red Cross for the victims of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that also hit Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, executives of Asian Carmakers Corp. (ACC, the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines) have given personal cash contributions for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims, and the company is scheduled to do volunteer work to support Red Cross’ relief efforts.
“As a group, ACC-BMW, together with our sister company Kia, will also be providing cash donations,” said Maricar Cristobal Parco, ACC president.
Parco added that “ACC will also contribute to Red Cross for every car we sell this month.”
The Covenant Car Co. Inc. (TCCCI), Chevrolet exclusive distributor in the Philippines, is also mobilizing its dealer network through Facebook and SMS blasts to request for relief goods to help out Tacloban. It is planning to send out a formal fund-raising message to its dealers.
Lawyer Albert Arcilla, TCCCI president and managing director, added: “What we have done at Chevrolet first is to find a way to communicate to our dealer partners and their stewards to determine how they are and if they were safe with their families.”
CATS pack
CATS Motors’ public relations director Emy Arcilla initially said that company president Felix Ang did not intend to publicly announce its plans. He eventually revealed, however, that CATS Motors has earmarked “a minimum of P2 million,” the bulk of which would go to the Philippine National Red Cross.
Arcilla added that CATS Motors plans to allocate P1 million worth of goods to be packed by employees themselves. “The amount is small in terms of value, but the most valuable part would be that employees might not do the party anymore but will spend time and effort to pack goods for relief operations for Bohol and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.”
As of press time, CATS Motors has been distributing a survey for employees to decide for themselves whether they would want to proceed with their Christmas party or do the packing for relief operations.” Arcilla said that “employees have been asking if there are plans to donate.”
Viking Cars Inc., the official Philippine distributor of Volvo vehicles, has also started the ball rolling for its relief efforts.
Volvo dropoff points
Loi Concepcion-de Guzman, Viking Cars Inc. assistant vice president for marketing, said that all Volvo dealers in Metro Manila would now serve as dropoff points for donations in kind, and cash donations would be directed to organizations such as the Red Cross and the Archdiocese of Manila.
De Guzman added that the company would post a list of other relief operation centers and other ways to send help to the survivors of the typhoon.
“Volvo Philippines had been closely monitoring Yolanda, and as early as Nov. 7, we conducted preemptive measures on how to be prepared and ready for any eventuality,” said De Guzman.
She added that the company “sent information and safety tips, including typhoon preparedness information, to its clients.”
“We utilized our communication networks such as SMS and e-mail blasts and the Volvo PH Facebook site. The information “was cascaded to dealers and stewards so they may help spread the word.”
De Guzman, who is personally involved in relief efforts as she described her home province of Aklan as “severely damaged,” started the Bangon Aklan page with some of her former schoolmates to share information and coordinate help for Aklanons.
As of press time, Toyota Motor Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., Ayala Automotive Holdings Corp. (local distributor of Volkswagen vehicles), Nissan, Ford, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (Subaru) and Mazda were finalizing their own plans.
Bohol first
Willy Tee Ten, president of Autohub Group of Companies (a synergy of automotive dealerships and distributorships), told Inquirer Motoring that employees in the Ford Bohol dealership were severely affected by the earthquake that recently struck the province.
“Some of the relatives of our employees from the Visayas region are affected as well. We are currently helping them first before others,” he said.
Isa Suarez, communications manager of Ford Philippines, said the company was “definitely working on something.” The details, however, were not yet available as of press time Monday.
Arcilla disclosed that TCCCI dealer partners in Cebu, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro were readily contacted.
“However, the communication lines with our partners in Tacloban were not good. We could not ascertain their safety until Sunday evening, which was good news, however, we are coordinating with the proper channels how best to deliver any quick relief contributions,” he added.
Network, text blasts
TCCCI has mobilized its dealer network through Facebook and SMS blasts to request for relief goods to help Tacloban. Arcilla said that the company was still figuring out and coordinating with the government and civic agencies as to how best to deliver the goods.
“Our primary objective now is to help out in providing the basic needs of the victims, and when relief operations are under way, we will assess with the help of our dealers, when they are ready and safe, on how we can address expeditiously the automotive concerns of our customers in those areas,” Arcilla explained.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has also donated P1.5 million for victims of Typhoon “Santi” and the recent earthquake. Previously, on Oct. 24, the company handed a P500,000 check to the GMA Kapuso Foundation. On Oct. 25, IPC donated P1 million to the ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya, both donations intended to assist victims of the recent earthquake in Bohol and Cebu.
When Tropical Storm “Maring” hit Metro Manila and surrounding provinces last August, the Honda Group of Companies donated P1 million to help in the relief and recovery efforts. The group is composed of Honda Philippines Inc., Honda Cars Philippines Inc., Honda Parts Manufacturing Corp. and Honda Trading Philippines Ecozone Corp.
It was also during this time that Toyota Motor Philippines donated P1 million to rehabilitation projects in Laguna province. The auto giant’s manufacturing plant is located in Laguna. P500,000 of the P1 million was donated to the city government of Sta. Rosa, and an equal amount to the provincial government of Laguna. The donation was made through TMP’s social and humanitarian arm Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation.
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