ILIGAN City — Families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in parts of Mindanao received emergency food and water assistance from Aboitiz Foods through Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (Pilmico) and Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

The quake, which struck on June 8, damaged homes, disrupted essential services, and forced many residents to seek shelter in evacuation centers across General Santos City and Sarangani Province.

To help address urgent needs, Aboitiz Foods launched a multi-wave relief operation in coordination with local government units and community partners.

The company distributed 1,850 cases of bottled water and 1,000 relief packs containing rice and other non-perishable food items to affected families in five barangays, two hospitals, and several evacuation centers in General Santos City, Glan, and Malapatan.

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“We recognize that our responsibility extends beyond the footprint of our operations to standing alongside our communities during difficult times,” said Joeben Gamatero II, vice president for Agribusiness Marketing and Brand & Reputation Management at Aboitiz Foods.

“We hope that our relief operations can help offer stability for affected families as they begin rebuilding their lives after the earthquake,” he added.

The relief drive also highlighted volunteerism among Aboitiz Foods employees, who helped pack, transport, and personally distribute aid to communities affected by the disaster.

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Disney Paquingan-Sususco, regional sales manager for Feeds Sales–Gamefowl, said the operation showed the value of teamwork and leadership during crises.

“Seeing everyone unite behind a common purpose and work together to deliver assistance was inspiring,” she said.

Christian Rey Pepugal, territory business manager for Feeds Sales–Livestock, said the initiative meant more than simply handing out relief goods.

“It was about showing people that they were not alone,” he said. “Seeing the gratitude and resilience of affected families made all the hard work worthwhile.”

Aboitiz Foods said it remains committed to supporting communities through disaster response, preparedness, and long-term recovery initiatives in partnership with local governments and community organizations.