Believe it or not, AirAsia Philippines has 99 employees who are Philippine Air Force reservists. While you may be wondering what’s the connection between AirAsia and the Philippine Air Force aside that they both belong in the air, this is in part of AirAsia Philippines’ disaster response program named “alwaysREDy“. The aim is to bring the much-needed help to Filipinos affected by typhoons and other calamities in the country.
The alwaysREDy program allows other stakeholders such as the Philippine Air Force, Christ’s Commission Foundation Ministries, Inc. (CCF) and New Life Community Care Foundation (NLCOM) to widen their reach of the disaster relief efforts to more communities regardless of time and location.
This program is part of the airlines corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiative.
Humanitarian missions and peer counselling
With 99 employees who are PAF reservists and 36 more who are peer supporters, AirAsia staff are ready to help stakeholders like the PAF and other organizations in humanitarian missions and peer counselling for victims of calamities and disasters.
Philippine Air Force 1st Air Reserve Center Commanding Officer LTC Ritza Ann M. Jovellanos said, “The Philippine Air Force has always been a strong partner of AirAsia in humanitarian missions and services including the mounting of special humanitarian flights for emergency and disaster management. Rest assured that alwaysREDy will have our all out support, be it from our uniformed personnel or your Allstar reservists, anytime, anywhere.”
NLCOM Executive Director Paulino Giague Jr. said, “New Life Community Care Foundation’s heart to Respond, Reach out and Rebuild has been expressed through our Hope Alive Campaign which we launched last year. Our gratitude to AirAsia for letting us take part in their AlwaysREDy campaign. Together with them and the rest of our partners and friends, we continue to make a difference!”
Christ’s Commission Foundation Ministries, Inc., Jesus Tan said, “Looking back, we started with no funding and support. We are very thankful for this partnership as this also opened collaboration and support from other groups and organizations. Together with AirAsia, we will always be alwaysREDy to serve and help our fellow Filipinos. Together, we will all be blessed to be a blessing.”
Providing air travel, cargo and logistics assistance
Movement of supplies and humanitarian personnel are important especially during natural calamities and disasters. AirAsia has committed to always provide air transport, cargo, and logistics assistance particularly during such times. They also continue to educate the public in preparing for any disaster so they would know what to do in any eventualities.
“It is timely that we are activating this program especially now that the rainy season has already started and we are still facing different calamities such as the eruption of Mt. Taal and sporadic earthquakes. alwaysREDy: anytime, anywhere breaks the norm of providing help when needed only.
More than disaster response, AirAsia and its partners aim to make this disaster preparedness program sustainable. Beyond sending help, we would like to educate the public in preparing for any disaster so they would know what to do in any eventualities.”
Ricky Isla, AirAsia Philippines CEO
Nice to see how AirAsia Philippines see the importance and full potential of their employees of being at service for others not just inside the aircraft, but outside too!
