After a long time of not posting, I felt the need to post again to thank the PLDT - Smart Foundation for extending their helping hands to my province. It has been months now that we are in quarantine and we are still struggling to get back to our normal lives. Everyday, more and more people are in need of help just to get by and survive the freeze that the pandemic is giving us. There really are so much uncertainties now, not just because of the fact that the virus is just around the corner, but also because there are so much people who needs to work to be able to provide for their families.

It might not seem like Pampanga is a province that would need so much help, but there are many underserved communities in the far - flung areas of Pampanga. The PLDT- Smart Foundation (PSF) recently reached out to these aread in Angeles City and San Fernando, Pampanga to turn over grocery packs and PPE Donations.

The corporate social responsibility arm of PLDT and Smart, PSF, turned over 1000 grocery packs, 250 PPE sets and 10 tents. Angeles City received 500 of the grocery packs and 250 PPE sets that were turned over to the Local Governmant unit (LGU) through Vice Mayor Maria Vicenta L. Vega - Cabigting. While San Fernando, Pampanga received 500 of the grocery packs and 10 tents that were turned over to the PNP Region 3 for distribution to poor families living in far - flung areas. These families include those who are living along the river, indigenous communities and poverty - stricken villages in the region.

The president of PLDT - Smart Foundation, President Esther Santos, said "we continue to try our best in addressing the needs of our brother and sisters in some indigent communities across the country, especially during these trying times."

Along with this movement of PLDT-Smart Foundation, the Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) also distributed 200 PPE sets to the Task Force Safe Haven Quarantine Facility through Dr. Maria Clemencita D. Dobles, who is the Manager of the Health and Sanitation Division National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City, Brgy, Aranguren Capas, Tarlac. The MPIF also distributed 300 grocery packs for some families in Apalit, Pampanga. This was turned over to Apalit Vice Mayor Pedro Nucom. "We realize that helping provide aid distribution will enable the province to stretch its help for all its 505 Barangays," says MPIF President Melody del Rosario. "It is a daunting task for all provinces and we in the private sector are always ready to extend our support." The Pampanga relief effort was conducted together with PLDT and Smart, Metro Pacific Investment Foundation, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation and Alagang Kapatid Foundation.

To know more about the efforts of the PLDT Group in beating the COVID - 19 pandemic, please visit https://beta.pldt.com/covid19/.