Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cebu Pacific has not stopped lending a helping hand—airlifting much-needed humanitarian cargo across the country; helping repatriate tourists and Overseas Filipinos through sweeper flights; and now, assisting Locally Stranded Individuals, majority of whom have been waiting to fly back to their home provinces from Metro Manila.
Most of the LSIs had been applying to work overseas or were working in Metro Manila when domestic flights were suspended following the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine in mid-March.
But even as domestic flights resumed in June, not everyone could be flown back immediately due to limited capacity and government restrictions. With nowhere else to go, many LSIs sought shelter in various areas near the airport, primarily the Philippine Army gym in Fort Bonifacio.
Since last month, CEB has worked with national and local government authorities and other partners to organize special flights to bring LSIs back to their home provinces. Whenever possible, CEB personnel have also accommodated LSIs on remaining seats on existing flights so they could be flown back home.
Extending further assistance to those who still haven’t been able to return to their home regions, CEB, along with URC, a sister company under JG Summit Holdings, actively participated in recent feeding programs for our stranded countrymen in cooperation with the Philippine Army, other government partners, and concerned civic organizations.
The country’s leading airline recently teamed up with Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team-Philippines for mass feeding programs held in June and July. A team of volunteers from CEB’s Inflight Catering and Sales and the Corporate Communications departments partnered with AMURT volunteers in preparing, cooking, packing, and distributing food to stranded passengers in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and to affected families from disadvantaged communities in Quezon City.
To learn more about the situation of LSIs and what CEB has been doing to help, visit: facebook.com/YourPhilippineArmy
