Beneath the sky over Oriental Mindoro, dry farmlands have experienced limited irrigation in recent months. Five towns in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, including Mansalay, were placed under a state of calamity due to El Niño.

Estela Abrenica, 43, worries for the future. “I can no longer set aside stocks for my family. Harvest was just enough to pay this month’s obligations.”

Ricson Gervas, 54, lamented “I usually produce 180 bags a month, but only yielded 37,” barely covering his debts and his family’s needs.

“Our crops were a month shy from harvest season. Now all gone,” said Luciminda Gervas, 58, who manages the family farm, together with her husband, Felicisimo, 74.

Estela, Ricson, Luciminda, and Felicisimo are just few of thousands of farmers, whose lives have drastically changed in drought-hit Mansalay.

“Heeding the call for assistance, PLDT and Smart rallied the organizations under the leadership of our Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan to come together, through Tulong Kapatid, to bring much needed aid so that no farmer is left behind,” said Cathy Yap-Yang, PLDT and Smart FVP and Head of Group Corporate Communications.

In partnership with the Mansalay municipal government and provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, aid in the form of hygiene kits from Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI), water from Maynilad, medicines and vitamins from Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF), teleconsultation services from Metro Pacific Investments Corporation  (MPIC) and mWell, relief goods, Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging services from PLDT, Smart, and PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), were provided to farmers.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to Tulong Kapatid for being the first to respond to the plight of Mansalay farmers. I believe that with the help of our public and private partners, we can overcome these challenges,” said Vice Mayor Shernan Gamol, who was joined by Municipal Administrator Engr. Alexis Diama, and Ruel Quinzon, Consultant for Political Affairs from the Office of the Vice Governor of Oriental Mindoro, during the turnover ceremonies.