Integrated logistics firm Airspeed, a part of SM Investments Corporation’s portfolio investments, quickly responded to the call to bring relief to typhoon-stricken areas in the wake of Typhoon Odette (Rai).

Logistics plays a critical role in times of disasters. As soon as winds died down, Airspeed immediately offered its air freight forwarding services as well as its six and 10-wheeler trucks to bring tons of essential cargo such as power generator sets, bottles of water, mattresses and rice to areas affected by the typhoon.

Airspeed offered the use of its warehouses in Manila and Cebu for free for storage of relief goods coming from various organizations nationwide to be consolidated and transported by air to the affected areas.

It also flew truckloads of bottled water immediately provided by SM companies to Cebu to help in relief operations in light of the water shortage in the typhoon-hit region.

“There were difficulties bringing items to various cities. But the spirit of Bayanihan (working together) came through. We were getting calls from all over asking to bring relief goods to Cebu, Surigao, Siargao and Dinagat Islands,” Airspeed Chairman and President Rosemarie P. Rafael said.

Inspiring People to Serve

With its own warehouse in Cebu affected by the typhoon, Airspeed swiftly sent supplies and assistance to its employees. It is currently taking care of housing repair requirements for employees whose houses were damaged by the typhoon.

“We needed to think and take care of our own people first. When we took care of their needs, you immediately saw that they were motivated to take care of the needs of others,” Ms. Rafael said.

She recounted that there was a cargo of water that needed to be picked up at the airport on Christmas Day. With manpower short at the airport especially on a holiday, Airspeed employees willingly took on the task to pick up and deliver the critical goods to their destinations.

“Our people were willing to do it on a holiday. The need was there and they did it and I am very proud of our Cebu team. I see their willingness to serve in spite of the challenges and the crisis,” Ms. Rafael shared.