Vivant Corporation, through its corporate social responsibility arm, Vivant Foundation Inc. (VFI), extended assistance to families affected by a fire that struck Barangay Ermita in Cebu City on Black Saturday, April 4.
The fire affected around 150 families, roughly 600 to 750 individuals, causing significant damage to homes and displacing residents. In response, VFI distributed essential goods to support immediate needs and aid the community’s initial recovery efforts.
The incident occurred in Barangay Ermita, a densely populated urban community and host barangay of Meridian Power Inc. (MPI), previously known as Cebu Private Power Company (CPPC) and fully-acquired subsidiary of Vivant Energy. At the height of the incident, the plant opened its facility to allow the responders to use the site as a strategic staging ground. This enabled faster access, improved coordination, and more efficient fire and rescue operations, significantly helping to contain the spread of the fire and protect surrounding areas.
“We are grateful to MPI for immediately opening its gates to the fire responders during the onset. ” said Mark Rizaldy Miral, Barangay Captain of Ermita. “That quick decision made a huge difference to help prevent the fire from spreading further and spared more families from losing their homes.”
“Our communities are never an afterthought. They are part of who we are and why we do what we do,” said Bienvenido Saniel III, Vice President of Meridian Power Inc. “We carry with us a responsibility to look after the people who live around us. Supporting them in time of need will always come first.”
For Vivant, the response reflects a broader commitment beyond infrastructure. “Vivant goes beyond providing energy solutions. We are present for the communities we serve, especially in times of need,” said Shem Jose Garcia, Executive Director of Vivant Foundation Inc. “In moments like this, what matters most is showing up, standing with the community, and doing what we can to help them recover and move forward.”