MCIA Undertakes Relief Efforts In Odette-Hit Areas

In the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, Megawide Construction Corp. and Cebu2World Development launched immediate relief programs in collaboration with Cebu City Hall, Barangay Ermita officials, and vendor groups in Carbon Public Market.

Photo Insert: The Megawide team lends a helping hand to victims of Odette's onslaught at the Carbon Market Cebu.

“We spoke to Mayor Mike Rama immediately,” Cebu2World Director Cristina Angan said. “We discussed how Megawide can help accelerate the renovation of market facilities, create more resilient structures, and send immediate supplies to barangays.”

Cebu2World, a wholly-owned subsidiary of engineering and infrastructure innovator Megawide Construction Corporation, is the company undertaking the modernization of the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City.

These immediate relief programs included setting up the community pantry on Quezon Boulevard, wherein vendors donated fresh vegetables and fruits for nearby communities that were affected. Other initiatives included distributing holiday food packs to vendors, as well as to a number of kargadors and karumateros; providing water to residents in Sitio Bato of Barangay Ermita; lending equipment and manpower to assist the local government unit in clearing operations; and installing solar lights around the market so that key areas in Carbon do not wallow in the dark while power was still out.

They also continue to operate a free charging station at the ground floor of the Interim Market structure, while construction is being powered by their generator set.

"We really felt that Megawide did not abandon us. They have community responsibility and they responded to our needs," LAVO Seaside president Pastor Potot said in Bisaya during an interview.

The Landing Vendors Organization (LAVO) Seaside is one of the prominent vendor associations in Carbon Public Market. Their vendors were among the first to settle in the Carbon Bagsakan structure, which serves as one of the temporary sites for their vending activities while the Interim Market is being constructed.

Potot said that while 40% of vendors in Carbon Bagsakan have not yet been able to resume vending because of their losses after Odette, they are thankful that Megawide donated some grocery items on top of immediately repairing minor damage to the sturdy Bagsakan structure.

"Megawide built a sturdy structure. At the height of Typhoon Odette, the ground seemed to shake from the wind but the Carbon Bagsakan remained in place and only some parts of the roof were damaged. They fixed it immediately," Potot said.

Potot also said that the solar lights Megawide installed in certain areas of Carbon have helped prevent crimes, especially theft.

"Only Megawide was able to provide lighting. We were thankful that they also allowed use of the generator and we were able to complete the Misa de Gallo," said Christie Cortez, a barangay tanod of Ermita and the head of Carbon TINUOD, a local alliance of kargadors and karumateros. The same generator set is now being used for the free charging station at the Interim Market structure.

Cortez said she was there when Cebu2World officials coordinated with Barangay Ermita to provide water to Sitio Bato residents and some nearby parts of Carbon.

Indeed, community inclusivity has been a core value of Megawide and Cebu2World in handling national projects.

Angan said that during crises, when the company may have access to immediate needs like food, water, and clearing equipment, their first response is always to share what they have with their host community.

“The aspirations and natural strengths of the Carbon community are already integrated into the development plan for Carbon. As the project progresses and more of the market sections are modernized, they will also have more opportunities that will help them recover from the impact of Typhoon Odette, as well as the COVID health crisis, and attain a better life for them and their families,” she said.

To help small local vendors recover faster from the devastating effects of Typhoon Odette, Megawide encourages Cebuanos to source their staples such as rice, vegetables, and fruit, from the Carbon Public Market, where food supply is no longer a major issue and customers are assured of fresh and locally sourced items.

Angan also highlighted that the Carbon modernization project will ensure the improvement of facilities and the district to withstand typhoons. This long-term mission will include the cleaning of waterways as well as the improvement of drainage declogging and street infrastructure. Vendors can continue to look forward to being relocated to a cleaner, safer, and more secure permanent facility.

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