SM DONATES TEST KITS
MPIF ASSISTS LOCAL FARMERS
Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) has donated over 8,000 kilograms of fresh vegetables from local farmers’ cooperatives to beneficiaries as part of its ongoing CoViD-19 relief efforts.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country during their peak harvest time in March, farmers were unable to sell their produce and the food industry experienced limited access to fresh vegetables due to the lockdown.
As a means to address this need, MPIF sought potential suppliers to help further their cause and came upon Cherrie Atilano’s Move Food Initiative through her company, Agrea Agricultural System International Inc. The Move Food Initiative provided an equally beneficial network for both. In patronizing farmer’s agricultural produce, MPIF has also improved farmers’ income by shortening the supply chain.
The MPI Foundation’s goal for this initiative is two-fold: to provide healthier and more nutritious options amid the influx of canned and instant meals and in turn, support local farmers whose industry has likewise been drastically affected by the pandemic. Working with the Move Food initiative guaranteed that these farmers, who strive to provide their fellowmen with sustenance, are not forgotten in their time of need.
MPIF president Melody del Rosario recognized that health and nutrition fall second to convenience, accessibility, and longer shelf life.
“Being out there and personally distributing relief goods while mindful of social distancing for everyone’s safety, gives you a firsthand view of people’s needs,” Del Rosario said. “To provide food that fills their stomachs is indeed a goal, but ensuring their good health is the extra step we decided to take.”
With the uncertainty brought upon by the country by the CoViD-19 pandemic, MPIF calls upon all sectors to continuously keep the Filipino spirit of bayanihan alive and extend their help to those who need it most, whenever possible.
ANTIBODY SCREENING FOR MAYNILAD EMPLOYEES, OTHERS
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has started the conduct of screening serologic antibody tests for returning Maynilad employees, including third-party service providers such as meter readers, desludging personnel, and other contractors prior to redeployment for fieldwork assignments. Those with positive results in this screening will undergo further COVID-19 tests. This activity is being implemented in partnership with the Delos Santos Medical Center of the MPIC Hospitals Group.
The water company has also instituted stringent protocols for calibrated reentry into offices. Only a third of its employees, specifically those assigned to mission-critical activities such as water and wastewater operations, are returning to their respective workplaces; the rest will sustain work-from-home arrangements. All Maynilad employees and service providers are required to observe workplace safety measures such as social distancing, regular disinfection, temperature checks, and wearing of Personal Protective Equipment.
This June, Maynilad will resume major construction projects, as well as meter reading and onsite billing activities. It will also gradually start opening its Business Area offices. “Since the start of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), we have been putting in place new safety policies and procedures to adapt to the so-called ‘new normal’ workplace scenario. This is necessary so we can ensure the continued health and safety of our workers and customers,” Maynilad said.
Since the start of ECQ in mid-March, a skeletal workforce of frontline Maynilad personnel continued manning facilities and conducting maintenance work despite quarantine restrictions to ensure sustained water service for the company’s 9.7 million customers.
PROJECT KAAGAPAY FOR HEALTHCARE FRONTLINERS
Project Kaagapay, a fundraising initiative that began last April to provide much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for the country’s healthcare community, has raised almost P92 million in cash donations and received in-kind donations worth almost P27 million, reaching 70 hospitals and medical centers in Metro Manila and other provinces and distributing over 200,000 PPE sets for beneficiaries.
Kaagapay was launched by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Zuellig Pharma, ABS-CBN, and Metro Drug as part of the private sector’s efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic through collective action.
Among the companies and organizations that have supported the initiative are Zuellig Family Foundation, Ayala Corp., Ayala Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, PLDT, Pilipinas Shell, PMA Alumni Association, Alaska Milk Corp., Peace and Equity Foundation, Alagad ng Batas Foundation, and Normany Group. Individual donations also reached almost Php 4.5 million through joint fundraising with Paymaya, Gcash, and Ayala Malls.
In-kind donations also poured in from Apple Inc., which gave 105,000 KN95 masks amounting to more than P15.7 million; UPS, which provided transport support equivalent to P5 million; Airbnb, which allotted almost P3.5 million for free accommodation; Unilever, which donated 10 ventilators and 15,000 surgical face masks amounting to over P1.7 million; Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc., which gave 750 test kits; US Philippines Society, which contributed N95 masks; and Huawei, which provided surgical masks.
HMC BACKS FIGHT VS COVID-19
Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), through H.A.R.I. Foundation, Inc. (HFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), donated a fresh supply of 2,200 personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Lung Center of the Philippines under HFI’s ongoing Biyahe ng Bayani COVID response campaign.
The donation came right on time as the Lung Center continues to repurpose its facilities and enable its health workers to effectively treat severely ill COVID-19 patients. The Lung Center is home to one of the 22 laboratories capable of testing COVID-19 samples.
“With the arrival of brand-new PPEs from South Korea, commended worldwide for its best practices in flattening the curve, we again express in a concrete way our thanks and support to our health workers by protecting their wellness and rallying them onward in their noble mission of serving the Filipino,” said HARI and HFI president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.
This donation is part of the entire HARI and HARI dealership network’s coordinated nationwide efforts to combat the COVID-19 virus, observant of HMC’s global vision for “Humanity in Times of Hardship.”
Biyahe ng Bayani, which is under the umbrella of HFI’s flagship disaster response program #Hyundai SAGIP, has been providing staunch mobility support to medical front liners, ranging from free transport to the delivery of critical supplies, such as personal protective equipment (PPEs) to partner health institutions in Metro Manila and Northern and Southern Luzon.
TAIWAN ASS’N YOUTH GROUP SUPPORTS FARMERS
On 22 and 23 May, President Ya-Hui Huang of the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP), together with Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines Youth Chapter (TAPYC)’s President Shirleen Hsieh and its members, distributed a total of 1.5 metric tons of rice and 370 bags of mixed vegetables to various less fortunate families in Bulacan and Rizal.
Within 3 days, a group of young Taiwanese entrepreneurs in the Philippines were able to raise P130,000 as funds which were used to procure fresh produce directly sourced from Benguet farmers. These goods, with the help of ATECO, were delivered on the same day straight to almost 400 households in Norzagaray, Bulacan and Brgy. Calawis, Rizal.
Ambassador Peiyung Hsu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), also joined in the distribution of these donations to show his support.
Each beneficiary received the goods delivered to their doorsteps by representatives from TAP, TAPYC, TECO, and ATECO. Through this project, the Taiwanese community reaches out to the Filipino community by showing its care to the less fortunate, and at the same time supporting the local farming industry. More power and stay safe.
TRUE MONEY: GO CASHLESS AMID PANDEMIC
TrueMoney rolled out its award-winning Dagdag Puhunan program for the benefit of local communities amid the pandemic.
In partnership with Unilever, it enables cashless payment for purchase of essential food and non-food products.
Instead of paying products in cash, sari-sari store owners can transact through the secure Dagdag Puhunan platform, using their Unionbank credit line to directly purchase stocks from Truemoney’s FMCG partners. It eliminates the need for physical cash transactions and trucking services. It ensures the safety of retailers and distributors on the road at the time of enforced varied quarantine measures across the country.
At present, sari-sari store customers of Unilever’s distributors can purchase additional stocks on affordable credit and do not have to worry about running out stock before the next Unilever salesman’s visit or the inconvenience and cost of replenishing stock at the wholesaler.
In the course of the two-year partnership, the TrueMoney platform comprises 77 percent Unilever loyalty program customer base, made up of its distributors and their sari-sari store customers. The inclusion of the Dagdag Puhunan credit facility expanded this partnership.
To date, TrueMoney has 11,000 active stores and targets to acquire 120,000 unique sari-sari stores by the end of the year. The maximum short term working capital amount for sari-sari stores is P10,000, which may increase over time depending on the retailer’s usage or credit standing.
MIRAMONTI DONATES TO QUALIMED STA ROSA
ITALPINAS Development Corporation through its Miramonti Sales Office recently donated washable PPE, face shields and surgical gloves to QualiMed Hospital in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“This is about people helping the community. We all have a responsibility to play in the fight against COVID-19. We will take things in positive action, and help where we can. We join the rest of the country in the ongoing fight against COVID-19,” said Febeline Manalo, Miramonti Sales Office Operations and Finance Manager.
IDC strongly believes the spirit of “bayanihan” will get the Philippines through this health crisis.
“This crisis is challenging us, as a community, to bring about an increased sense of humanity, community, and compassion,” Manalo said.
Meanwhile, IDC through its Miramonti Sales Office at Sto. Tomas, Batangas also provided food packs for the health workers of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital, Sto. Tomas General Hospital, and St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center and Cancer Institute.
MALAMPAYA-SUPPORTED SEA RANGERS GET FOOD AID
Along the coasts of Northern Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, and Batangas City, where Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) forged community-based marine biodiversity conservation partnerships, deputized volunteer sea rangers, or bantay-dagat, continue their enforcement duties to protect natural coastal resources despite the difficult circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Guarding the marine protected areas is crucial at this time to conserve marine resources as some fishermen may try to come in and fish illegally in the area. It needs continuous management and protection for the recovery and replenishment of fish stocks and others,” said Gorgonio Polilan, a Bantay dagat from Coron, Palawan.
Since the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and its partners in the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have reported that several apprehensions of violators have been made, the most common violation being the use of an illegal type of fishing net.
At the onset of the ECQ, MFI immediately deployed food support to the bantay-dagat consisting of a 25-kilogram sack of rice each, fresh and processed meats, and fresh vegetables.
With the food support, MFI was able to help 365 families of the environmental frontliners in Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, and Batangas.
“Being a part of the skeletal force during this pandemic is not an easy task. Conducting patrols, responding to environmental threats, and providing assistance to the community while abiding by the rules and regulations of the ECQ are a tough challenge,” said El Nido National Park ranger Hero Jeff Isidro.
THOMASLLOYD-BIOPOWER SUPPORTS NEGROS
The BioPower Group and its shareholder and project sponsor, Europe-based global investment firm ThomasLloyd, are donating over P5 million of goods for the fight against COVID-19 in the province of Negros Occidental.
“ThomasLloyd is proud to stand side by side with our local partners and all of the people of Negros Occidental, as we face the challenge of the pandemic. Together, we will come through this successfully,’’ Managing Director, CEO- Asia Pacific of ThomasLloyd Group Ltd., Michael G. Airey affirmed.
BioPower and ThomasLloyd’s initial response includes providing thousands of full protective suits, face shields, gloves, N95 masks, surgical masks, goggles, shoe covers, alcohol, disinfectants, and packed food items for medical front-liners in Negros hospitals and LGU efforts.
Aside from working with the provincial government and the Bacolod City government, ThomasLloyd and the BioPower Group through their companies namely San Carlos BioPower Inc., South Negros BioPower Inc., and North Negros BioPower Inc. provided PPEs and assisted community response efforts to the following various cities and municipalities, San Carlos City, La Carlota City, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Silay City, Bago City, Escalante City, and the Municipalities of Manapla, Isabela, Himamaylan, and Hinigiran.
ThomasLloyd and BioPower are providing medical equipment and other support items such as Video Laryngoscopes, PPEs, masks, etc to designated COVID hospitals and medical facilities. The group is working with Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation Inc. and the St. Scholastica’s Bacolod Alumnae Foundation, Inc. to encourage co-donors to expand current relief efforts in the Province.
