In photo (L-R): Charles Ham, Global Disaster coordinator, HOPE worldwide Headquarters; Jun Velasco, HOPE worldwide Philippines, executive director; Mary Ann Viloria, EMC Philippines Marketing Manager; Ronnie Latinazo, EMC Philippines country manager; Dennis Lumbao, EMC Philippines segment manager; together with youth beneficiaries.
On the second anniversary of the Typhoon Yolanda, EMC opens the first EMC Center of Hope located at the National Housing Authority Relocation Site in Brgy. Cabalawan, Tacloban City. Ronnie Latinazo, EMC Philippines country manager, Charles Ham, HOPE worldwide Headquarters Global Disaster Coordinator, June Velasco, HOPE worldwide Philippines executive director, and beneficiaries were present during the opening ceremony.
“EMC is committed to giving back to the local community and through these continued efforts, we hope to play in rebuilding people’s lives in the areas affected the most by typhoons,” says Ronnie Latinazo, EMC Philippines country manager. “This project is part of EMC’s global social responsibility initiatives which aims to help local communities rebuild their lives through a series of education, protection, emergency and volunteer programs. The other EMC Centers of Hope are located in Ormoc and Daanbantayan, Cebu,” added Latinazo.
To date, the centers have served 152 children through education and supplemental feeding through the Day Care Program. 64 families were provided with livelihood support and assistance. HOPE worldwide has also mobilized 500 volunteers in the three EMC Centers of Hope.
The facility features a daycare center, two rooms designed for accommodating different livelihood recovery activities, trainings, computer and library rooms, and a receiving area. The centers will provide various services, including education, protection, emergency and volunteer programs for the development and transformation of the local community. The main programs of the centers include: livelihood recovery, education, health, protection advocacy, emergency, and volunteerism.
