Korean Air has again joined hands with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) to support the Home Building Project. Now in its fourth year, the project provides aid to the local communities in Bohol, Philippines, to rebuild their homes after an earthquake struck the province in October 2013, displacing more than 5,000 families.
A team of ten Korean Air employees from Manila volunteered to help build homes and provide maintenance training to the earthquake-affected households on 5 March. At a site in Maribojoc, Bohol, the volunteers worked together on various construction work like “sigkat”, which also means bamboo-weaving, to produce key structural components of prefabricated bamboo homes. These homes specifically designed and built by HFHP, in partnership with different government units and private organisations, make use of a bamboo-cement technology that promises to be decent, sturdy, earthquake and storm resilient. The volunteers also participated in sand sifting, brick excavation, sand and cement hauling, painting, brick laying, sand bagging, and cement mixing.
This project is run by a matching fund partnership between Korean Air and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a government institution responsible for social welfare rights and the promotion of social development. Through Korean Air’s donation supporting for the construction of 4 housing units for 4 benefiting families, the partnership is expected to bring multiplied benefits to the local communities.
“Korean Air is mindful of its corporate social responsibility. The matching fund partnership between Korean Air and the local government shows our concern and continuous involvement in social development. By bringing our resources and volunteers to this Home Building Project, we truly hope our efforts can bring people together to build homes, communities and hope,” said Seung Wook Kim, regional manager of the Philippines.
The first HFHP Home Building Project was initiated by Korean Air in 2013. Over the last four years, Korean Air has supported HFHP in building houses for the underprivileged in Payatas in Quezon City, in Daanbantyan in Cebu Province and in Northern Cebu.
Korean Air has shown their care for the local communities in need through an array of programs across different markets in Southeast Asia. In September last year, Korean Air provided relief goods to those affected by floods in Myanmar. Goods delivered to the country include 1,800 liters of water and 500 blankets. Last April, Korean Air also delivered relief goods to earthquake victims in Kathmandu, Nepal, including 24,000 bottles of mineral water, 2,000 blankets, dried rice and other foods.
