From tarp to tilapia: Geely Philippines donates food to charity groups

Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), the importer and distributor of Geely vehicles in the country, came across an unexpected opportunity to use its old (and soon to be disposed of) advertising tarpaulins to give back to the needy communities.

Wheng Clemente, among the fisherfolk from Paombong, Bulacan, reached out to SGAP to ask if she could have the Geely billboard tarpaulins in exchange for 120 kilos of fish. The tarpaulins, which had already been taken down, will be used to help save their fishery business according to Clemente. “Catch basin po kasi ang lugar namin. ‘Yung tarpaulin po kasi ang magsisilbing proteksyon sa lupa sa tabi ng ilog para hindi ‘to gumuho papunta sa ilog tuwing umuulan. Tuwing gumuguho kasi ‘yung lupa, malaki ang nalulugi sa kabuhayan namin at ng iba pa naming mga kapitbahay (Our location is a catch basin. The tarpaulin will protect the river when it rains, preventing the erosion. Erosion is the bane of our business.),” Clemente said.

The people from SGAP welcomed Clemente’s proposal — turning garbage into gold. The tilapia they received from Clemente were donated to local charitable institutions, namely Walang Iwanan Alliance, Kawa Pilipinas, and Heaven’s Touch Cuisine. The aforementioned organizations helped clean and cook at least 120 kilos of the fish to feed approximately 600 people in Manila and Pasay.

“It’s a win-win solution for everybody. Win because we get to recycle, support our local fish farmers, and at the same time give back to the community in these times,” SGAP Marketing Manager Ryan Isana said.

The recent pandemic did very little to stop Filipinos from helping their countrymen. The feeding program initiative by Geely, Clemente, and the aforementioned institutions, is proof that in these trying times, every kind of aid, big or small, will surely make a difference.

And like Geely, many have joined forces last year in giving aid to those greatly affected by the lockdown. Companies, like Honda Philippines, provided transport support to the medical frontliners in Laguna. Similarly, members of the group, Nissan Urvan Pilipinas, supported Nissan Philippines' initiative by helping deliver the meals to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), on the other hand, handed over COVID-19 prototype vans to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Geely has been known for delivering some of the best SUVs in the segment, like Coolray, Azkarra, and the Okavango. And through this recent initiative, the local arm of the Chinese multinational automotive brand, proves that there’s more to the company than meets the eye.

Photos from Geely

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