On September 26, 2014, British American Tobacco (Phils) General Manager James Lafferty and NVC Foundation President Millie Kilayko signed a grant agreement of Php9 million for rehabilitation and repair in the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Biliran–three areas hard hit by Typhoon Yolanda. Under this agreement, NVC will administer various livelihood and infrastructure projects in Naval, Biliran; Hernani, Eastern Samar; and Tacloban, Leyte. The grant will provide fishing boats and fishing nets to fishermen affected by the typhoon. It will also provide tricycles and pedicabs, and sari-sari store capitalization to those who have lost their livelihood to the disaster. The signing took place during the NVC Thank You Day at the Negros Trade Fair in the Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City. It was witnessed by NVC trustees and volunteers as well as British American Tobacco staff. British American Tobacco is a global tobacco group founded in 1902, with brands sold in more than 200 markets. The company understands that the tobacco industry is a controversial one, and takes care to act responsibly from local to global level. British American Tobacco supports rural communities in the developing world and is reaching out to the surviors of Typhoon Yolanda through NVC.