Kapuso Foundation, DILG ink deal to ease distribution of relief aids

The GMA Kapuso Foundation and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would make distribution of relief goods to calamity-hit areas easier and faster. 

The “pivotal” signing was spearheaded by GMA Kapuso Foundation EVP & COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, marking the foundation’s first MOA with a national government agency. 

“Kasi ang kailangan naman namin ay nationwide help for our relief distributions. Para well-coordinated ang lahat at tsaka hindi tayo maipit. Kasi kapag nagbibigay tayo ng mga relief goods ay kailangan agarang makarating roon,” said Catibog. 

(What we need now is nationwide help for our relief distributions. We want everything to be well-coordinated and we don’t want any hiccups in our projects. Our relief goods must be delivered immediately.) 

Meanwhile, the DILG said that the partnership would connect the foundation to its local offices in various localities for easier delivery of help. 

“On our end, idi-direkta namin sila sa kailangang lugar. Magagamit namin ang aming lawak parating sa mga regional, sa mga provincial, sa mga city, municipal hanggang barangay level. Iko-konekta namin sila sa lahat ng mga empleyado namin on the ground na kailangan ninyo. Pagdating ng mga permit kailangan ipagawa ninyo, ganun din ang gagawin namin to make things easier,” said Abalos. 

(On our end, we will direct them to areas that are in need. We can use our network from regional, provincial, cities, municipalities, up to the barangay level. We will connect them to our employees on the ground. When it comes to needed permits, we will make things easier for you.) 

The agreement, which also covers other Kapuso Foundation projects such as medical missions that require local government clearance, would take effect this year until June 30, 2027. 

Further, Catibog shared that an agreement with the Department of Health is also in the works “to govern our medical missions and our free medicine distribution.” 

Also present at the signing were Assistant Secretary for Community Participation Elizabeth Lopez De Leon, Undersecretary for Operations Lord Villanueva, Undersecretary for External, Legal, and Legislative Affairs Juan Victor Llamas, Assistant Secretary for Local Government Jesi Howard Lanete, Public Affairs and Communications Service Officer-in-Charge Salvacion Baccay, and Bureau of Local Government Supervision director Debie Torres. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News