In the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses’ destructive wake, J&T Express Philippines mobilized its logistics network for free to aid Gawad Kalinga’s Operation Walang Iwanan last month to provide relief to the displaced victims.
Over three million Filipinos were affected by the tropical typhoon, with massive flooding leaving some 70,000 families stranded in evacuation centers throughout Luzon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
“The country already has enough on its hands because of the pandemic, with many Filipinos struggling to find new ways of making a living. Then all of a sudden, things got much worse when the typhoon hit. It’s only right that all of us who can should pitch in to help our fellow countrymen,” said J&T Vice-President Zoe Chi.
According to Chi, J&T, a dynamic courier service that operates nationwide known for efficiently delivering to far-flung and hard-to-reach locations, saw that its existing logistics network would be useful for moving relief goods following the disruption caused by the typhoon.
Some six tons worth of goods were delivered from J&T’s head office in Mandaluyong City to Bicol to help the afflicted, including 250 boxes of bottled water, 775 food relief packs, over 500 packs of clothing, baby kits and sandals, and tablets, all amounting to almost P1 million in value.
“Part of our mission at J&T is to help strengthen our regional partners. In business, this means supporting the growth of vendors found in the farthest reaches of the Philippines with our digital logistics network. However, in times of crisis, it also means using what we have to extend help as far as possible. We believe in the spirit of bayanihan, and that means everyone has a role to play,” Chi said.