Ayala deploys engineers, nurses to earthquake-hit Cebu areas

Insider Spotlight

• Over 500 Ayala volunteers joined Cebu earthquake response
• 3,000 relief packs delivered across six Northern Cebu towns
• Ayala’s skills-based volunteerism boosts recovery beyond relief
  

When a magnitude-6.9 earthquake rattled Cebu on Sept. 30, the Ayala Group didn’t just send relief packs—it deployed people with expertise. Engineers, counselors, and health workers joined the mission, proving that in disaster response, professional skills can be just as critical as food and water.

One of them was Rommel Ga-an, an engineer from Makati Development Corp. (MDC), who inspected cracked structures in Bogo. “In times of crisis, we can do anything to help those in need,” he said. “Even the smallest effort can change lives.”

Why it matters

The quake displaced thousands and damaged homes across Northern Cebu. While donations flow quickly after calamities, what communities often lack are skilled hands to assess safety, deliver psychosocial support, and provide medical care. 

Ayala’s model of skills-based volunteerism bridges that gap, showing how private companies can leverage talent—not just funds—for long-term resilience, the conglomerate said in a press release.

One Ayala in action

Through Ayala Foundation and the We Are Ayala Business Club (WAABC) Cebu, more than 500 volunteers from across the Ayala Group joined relief efforts.

Together, they distributed 3,000 relief packs across the municipalities of Bogo, Medellin, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, and Borbon. They also deployed 15 engineers to inspect structural damage and 20 psychosocial volunteers to provide counseling and emotional care.

“This is more than relief,” said Tony Lambino, president of Ayala Foundation. “When our volunteers share expertise—whether in engineering, counseling, or health—we help communities recover with confidence and hope.”

Stories from the ground

For psychosocial volunteer Francis Jay Pacatan, the mission was about presence as much as aid. “A young boy told me, ‘We’re still together, so it’s okay.’ That moment showed me the resilience children carry even in crisis,” he recalled.

Nurse Randy Abac echoed the sentiment. “We are trained to be frontline responders, caregivers, and leaders. In Cebu, I saw both destruction and hope—people refusing to give up.”

The bigger picture

Ayala’s Cebu initiative demonstrates how corporate volunteerism can move beyond charity into capacity-building. By combining relief goods with skilled response, the company helps communities not only survive but rebuild.

Those who wish to help may donate to donate.ayalafoundation.org or sign up to volunteer via volunteer.ayalafoundation.org.

Because in times of crisis, compassion plus competence is what communities need most. – Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma