Metro Pacific Tollways-led NLEX Corporation and construction firm EEI Corporation joined forces to assist the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in refurbishing its transient facility at Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac City.
NLEX Corporation President and GM J. Luigi L. Bautista, EEI Corporation President and CEO Roberto Jose L. Castillo, and NOLCOM Commander Lt Gen Ernesto C. Torres Jr. PA signed a memorandum of agreement for the refurbishment project aimed at providing lodging for military and civilian guests who are on official or personal travel near the vicinity of the command.
The project, which will be undertaken by NLEX and EEI at their own cost, involves the replacement of roof, ceiling, column supports; refurbishment of the common kitchen; and installation of barracks and toilet cubicles.
Apart from the renovation of the facility, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) took the opportunity to further help NOLCOM as it donated 70 hospital beds to uplift the condition of the military hospitals in Clark, Tarlac, La Union, and Isabela.
MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco acknowledges that the expressway operations largely benefit from the service of the soldiers who are maintaining peace and stability.
“We benefit greatly from the effectiveness of NOLCOM’s service. The repair and enhancement of their transient facility is a small way of giving back and a manifestation of our intent to assist NOLCOM so they can focus on their mandate of protecting the people and the state,” Franco said.
He also noted that the partnership among NLEX, EEI, and NOLCOM is a prime example of the public-private partnership scheme at work.
Same with Franco, EEI’s Castillo said that “this is not a donation but a payback to our military personnel who are sacrificing a lot and risking their lives for us.”
Castillo expressed his support to NOLCOM in performing their mandate saying that “ang pagproteksyon ng ating bayan ay nasa kamay ng ating kasundaluhan, kailangan natin silang tulungang maging maginhawa ang kanilang buhay dahil buhay nila ang kanilang tinataya.”
Delighted with the generosity of the private sector partners, Lt Gen Torres Jr. said, “Our dream of having a world-class transient facility come into fruition and this will significantly elevate the status or readiness of our facilities and considerably boost the morale and welfare of our troops knowing that they have a great place to stay here.”
Torres said “NOLCOM is enormously grateful for the all-out support of our partner stakeholders, may it be in terms of intellectual advice, expertise, or resources. Your contributions motivate us further in striving for our shared goals of creating an environment of lasting peace and development for the people of North and Central Luzon.”
Since 2005, NLEX has always been at the forefront of corporate social responsibility initiatives, striving to contribute to nation-building.
