MANILA - First Philippine Holdings Corp said Monday it pledged P100 million as aid for poor families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lopez-led firm said the amount allowed the immediate launch of sister company ABS-CBN Corporation’s “Pantawid ng Pagibig” project, which is designed to assist local governments provide food and basic necessities to poor families unable to source livelihood due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.

The campaign aims to raise money by mobilizing private companies and individuals willing to help.

On Sunday, ABS-CBN was able to raise a total of P236,997,391 as more than 100 Kapamilya stars came together for a virtual fundraising concert.

• ABS-CBN's 'Pantawid ng Pag-ibig' raises nearly P237-M for families hit by COVID-19

FPH said it saw the "Pantawid" campaign as a “template” which can be replicated in other parts of the country.

“FPH saw the need to help after monitoring reports about workers and small traders who worried about where to get money for their next meal following the implementation of enhanced community quarantine that cut them off from their work and means of livelihood,” it said in a statement.

The government imposed the lockdown first in Metro Manila on March 15, and then expanded it two days later to cover the entire Luzon, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Several local governments in the Visayas and Mindanao also implemented their own measures, such as community quarantines and lockdowns.

FPH has subsidiaries with operations in other parts of the country, including First Gen Corporation, the country’s largest clean and renewable energy producer.