The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons, but climate change poses new challenges to our disaster preparedness. Heavier flooding and landslides are among the most catastrophic consequences of extreme weather and pose a threat not only to property but also to life.
Recently, we were reminded of this during Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon, which impacted 8,630,663 people and displaced approximately 750,000, as reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Tragically, 146 lives were lost.
Among the worst-hit areas was Batangas, where neck-high flooding plagued some communities due to the downpour. In times of need, community comes first. As an Italian architect who has devoted my career to the Philippines through Italpinas Development Corporation (‘IDC’), I now treasure my adapted Filipino values, including the spirit of Bayanihan. Together with IDC Cares, the arm of our company charged with taking action in corporate social responsibility, we heeded the call to assist three affected barangays in Sto. Tomas, Batangas with the distribution of food and other essentials to almost 150 families last October 30, in coordination with the local government unit led by Sto. Tomas Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan.
Occurrences remind us urgently of the importance of comprehensive urban planning and development including recognition of the environmental risk. IDC was founded on the principles of sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Together with my partner, Atty. Jojo Leviste, our mission and design ethos is that all buildings should be green and environmentally efficient, as well as disaster-mitigated due to careful selection of locations.
Take for example our forthcoming and award-winning Miramonti Green Residences in Batangas, which is a prime location for development considering that it is more elevated compared to neighboring towns and it is well-connected to a major highway leading to Manila.
Our relief operations in Sto. Tomas, Batangas reflects our commitment to engaging our partner communities as we develop greener spaces. In our mission towards building sustainable communities, we bring forth the motto, “No one is left behind.”
Apart from responding to emergencies like the aforementioned, IDC has also promoted environmental conservation efforts such as the river clean-up drive in San Jose, Batangas, clean-up drive in Puerto, Cagayan de Oro, tree planting activity in Balulang, Cagayan de Oro, and mangrove planting in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, and others throughout the year.
IDC believes in investing in education as a foundation for future solutions. With this, we extended a helping hand in this sector with a giveaway of educational materials for toddlers in Barangay Molugan, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental and school supplies for students in Besigan, Cagayan de Oro.
As I look back at the eventful year, I realize that the season of giving started early in IDC as we have already conducted a feeding program and gift-giving activity in Leupapo Inc., a charity in Cagayan de Oro supporting cancer patients across Mindanao.
It warms my heart to recall the pursuits of our company – a testimony that IDC cares about people and their spaces.
Our initiatives have been a vital component of our work as a developer. Dynamic efforts in helping partner areas should be embedded in every company’s framework.
