Ayala unit raises P64M for informal sector, front-liners

AC Energy, part of the Ayala Group, has raised at least P64 million to assist those in the informal sector whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic, particularly the daily earners, or “no work, no pay” workers.

The package also includes help for medical front-liners, some of whom—those working at The Medical City in Pasig—were provided temporary home at Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) multipurpose hall in a nearby building.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt globally, and the crisis is set to hit the most vulnerable the hardest,” AC Energy president and chief executive John Eric Francia said in a statement.

“As AC Energy continues to ensure uninterrupted access to power, we will also continue to draw on our strengths and work on providing aid to our people and to as many Filipinos as possible,” Francia said.

The funds that AC Energy has raised so far have been used to cover the cost of electricity, health and food relief, medical supplies, cash donations, and employee wages and emergency funds, as the priority was to keep their people, communities and customers safe.

For its employees, as with the whole Ayala Group, AC Energy continues to provide for their salaries as well as additional financial support where possible. The company has also earmarked P8 million for contractual emplo­yees and for emergency response.

For the continued operation of a quarantine facility at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, AC Energy committed to cover half of the facility’s electricity cost and donated supplies such as bed frames, mattresses, pillows and other furnishings—all for a package of approximately P24 million.

Partner donor Meralco has pledged to cover the other half of the electricity cost related to the facility’s operation.

AC Energy also partnered with the De La Salle group in launching the Safe Shelter project, which provides temporary homes for COVID-19 front-liners.

Further, AC Energy took part in Project Ugnayan, a fundraising initiative together with more than 30 conglomerates and in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and Caritas Manila, to raise funds in support of families that had been economically displaced by the lockdown in Metro Manila.