NESTLE TURNS OVER P10M TO RED CROSS
Nestlé Philippines has turned over to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) P10 million to assist the latter in augmenting government efforts to provide for people in need of healthcare, as part of the company’s program to address COVID-19 called Kasambuhay ng Pamilyang Pilipino.
The Kasambuhay program aims to assist one million families and thousands of frontliners, as well as its own employees and those of its business partners.
The donation will be used by the PRC to help fund the setting up of a testing laboratory, and the purchase of medical tents, personal protective equipment, test kits, ventilators, respirators, surgical masks, and other essential health equipment for dealing with the pandemic.
“The Nestlé purpose is enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Our first priority is the welfare of people, families, and communities. Therefore, it is only fitting for us to extend support to the Philippine Red Cross, as we have done time and again in the past,” said Kais Marzouki, Nestle Philippines chairman and chief executive officer.
CALOOCAN TAPS PAYMAYA, SMART PADALA FOR STUDENT AID
The local government of Caloocan City has tapped Paymaya and Smart Padala to distribute more than P14 million financial aid to University of Caloocan City (UCC) students.
Some 13,000 students of the city public university are receiving the financial aid sent by the local government unit (LGU) directly to their PayMaya accounts through a digital voucher system.
When students receive an SMS informing them that they have received funds from the Caloocan LGU, all they have to do is “claim” the voucher in the app and it will be credited instantly to their PayMaya account.
Once received, the funds can be encashed through more than 800 Smart Padala centers in Caloocan alone and several hundreds more in adjacent cities, many of which are available even in small neighborhoods. Students may also choose to use the cash aid to pay their bills, buy airtime load, send money to family, or do online groceries using the PayMaya app.
FREE CONNECTIVITY FROM PLDT
PLDT Enterprise has deployed free connectivity support to the quarantine areas covered by the Philippine Army.
All quarantine areas manned by uniformed personnel in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila for COVID-19 patients now have business-grade fiber internet. The COVID-19 quarantine areas include Philippine Army Wellness Center, Gate 5 Barracks, SOQ TRADOC Building, and Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The fiber-grade connectivity will allow the army personnel to remain informed of the latest news about the coronavirus, and likewise will enable COVID-19 patients in the quarantine areas to keep in touch with their loved ones.
The group’s wireless subsidiary Smart Communications recently provided 540 smartphones loaded with voice, SMS and data packages for the Philippine National Police personnel at lockdown checkpoints.
100,000 HUGGIES DIAPERS
Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies brand recently distributed over 100,000 newborn disposable diapers to children’s hospitals and maternity wards around Metro Manila ensuring accessibility of these necessities to families and babies impacted by the new coronavirus disease 2019.
To date, Huggies Philippines has provided its Huggies Dry diapers to the following institutions: Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Ospital ng Makati, East Avenue Medical Center, Valenzuela Medical Hospital, National Children’s Hospital, Taguig-Pateros District Hospital, Caloocan City Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, Navotas City Medical Center, Valenzuela Emergency Hospital, Mandaluyong City Medical Center, Champ Hospital Pasig, Pasig City General Hospital, Ospital Ng Maynila, Sta. Ana Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, Pasay City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center.
In total, Huggies Philippines has committed to donating a total of 200,000 diaper packs.
HOLCIM PROMOTES HEALTH, SAFETY AT SITES
Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines Inc. continues to improve health and safety controls against COVID-19 at its sites to protect the well-being of people, partners, and the community.
The company closed sites and facilities in Luzon in compliance with the national government directive of an enhanced community quarantine on 16 March 2020, and shut down its plant in Davao City following a similar action by the local government on April 2.
John Stull, Holcim Philippines president and chief executive officer expressed confidence the company’s strong health and safety culture and well-thought-out plans enable it to protect people from COVID-19 when operations resume. Initiatives will draw from best practices across the LafargeHolcim Group and focus on social distancing, personal hygiene and health checks.
Holcim has also shifted its corporate citizenship budget to provide medical supplies to hospitals treating coronavirus patients and food and hygiene products to communities hosting its facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Manila, Batangas, Iloilo, Misamis Oriental and Davao City.
UDENNA SUPPORTS FARMERS
Udenna Foundation’s “Sagip Saka” program recently helped 100 farmers transport their ube and coffee produce from Mabato, Calamba, Laguna to buyers in Metro Manila.
This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 1,800 farmers nationwide.
“The ‘Sagip Saka’ program was born out of our desire to help Filipino farmers bring their crops to markets where they are most needed. We understand that this is particularly difficult during the enhanced community quarantine so we and our partners are providing logistics services for free,” said Tess Artadi, Udenna Foundation president.
Udenna Foundation, with the help of Chelsea’s Worklink, and Phoenix Petroleum dispatched a Worklink delivery truck to pick up and deliver the produce while Phoenix Petroleum ensured that the truck was serviced, fueled and ready to go.
Udenna Foundation has also partnered with AGREA Move Food Initiative, a social enterprise committed to delivering fresh produce directly to its customers.
Artadi said that they will continue to support the logistics needs of farmers during ECQ.
PHILAM PROVIDES FREE INSURANCE TO FRONTLINERS
The Philam Group will be providing 30,000 medical frontliners with free compassionate benefit coverage amounting to a combined worth of P1.5 billion.
The beneficiary hospitals are the designated COVID-19 treatment hospitals, both government and private, as well as partner hospitals nationwide. The program, called the Frontliners Inclusive Risk Safety neT (FIRST) Initiative, will course the grant through Philam Group’s corporate social responsibility affiliate, Philam Foundation.
CALTEX, BRAND PARTNERS OFFER FUEL DISCOUNT, OTHER DONATIONS
Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), offers medical frontliners, uniformed personnel, local government unit (LGU) frontliners, and delivery partners P4.00 and P2.00 per liter discount from their purchase of gasoline and diesel, respectively, until May 15.
Caltex has also donated P250,000 to the One Voice Pilipinas fund drive of its superstore partner, Landers, which gives P1,000 to secure a week’s worth of food to a family in need.
Caltex employees gave P170,000 to the Kaya Natin! Foundation which aids volunteers in ferrying hospital workers from various pick up and drop off points in Metro Manila.
Caltex marketer Northern Star Energy Corp. donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center and the Ospital ng Santa Cruz in Zambales, and extended help to 43 barangays in Ilocos Sur through retailer of Caltex Candon 3 which distributed live chicken and fresh milkfish to residents.
William Tan Enterprise, Inc., on the other hand, donated 30 containers of 70% disinfectant ethyl alcohol to the frontliners in Palawan.
Chevron companies has donated almost P1 million to Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation Inc., JAC Liner, Kaya Natin! Foundation, and Grab Philippines in support of frontliners.
About 91% of Caltex stations remain operational amidst the ECQ implementented in certain areas nationwide. These stations adhere to the 1-meter physical distancing rule, and implement regular temperature checks and frequent cleaning of areas.
