THE Ayala Group of Companies said it has completed the conversion of portions of the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City into a temporary health care facility for new coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) patients.
“The project, dubbed WTC We Heal as One Center, was made possible through the collective efforts of Ayala Land Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., Manila Water Co. Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. (IMI), and AC Energy Inc., together with the ICCP Group and Manila Exhibition Center Inc. (MEC), and with support from the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the National Government,” the group said.
“The Ayala Group of Companies was able to pool P46.4 million for this project,” it added.
Ayala Land unit Makati Development Corp. (MDC) headed the fit-out construction for 9,700 square meters of space at WTC, done in seven days.
“Following the layout and design by MDC with guidance from the Department of Health and Architect Daniel Lichauco, the facility features 500 beds enclosed in safe, clean, and controlled isolation cubicles, as well as examination rooms, nurses’ stations, doctors’ work areas, and medical staff quarters,” it said.
“When the national government asked for Ayala Land’s support, we immediately mobilized and pooled our resources to assist in the best way we can. We hope that this facility will help our country get through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are privileged to work with like-minded partners who want to do what’s best for the Filipino people,” said Bobby O. Dy, Ayala Land president.
Globe Telecom funded a large portion of the facility’s construction cost, as well as unlimited Wi-Fi services.
“Collaboration between the public and private sectors is vital during these times, and we will continue to lend support to the government to help the country recover from this pandemic soon,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land chairman.
The group said MEC provided the spaces in WTC rent-free. It also supplied bathroom toiletries in addition to security and janitorial services.
“Even before MEC, the owner of World Trade Center Metro Manila, was approached through the ICCP Group, we were already thinking about offering the exhibition hall, either as a Command or Testing Center for COVID-19,” said Pamela D. Pascual, WTC Metro Manila president.
“So when this came into fruition, through the partnership with Ayala Group, we are more than happy and proud to be given the chance to make a difference by helping government in its fight to quell COVID-19,” she added.
The facility was turned over on April 14 to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Command, who will serve as its medical operator.
For its continued operations, AC Energy donated 500 bedframes and pillows and has committed to cover 50 percent of the facility’s electricity costs until May 31, 2020. Partner donor Manila Electric Co. has pledged to cover the other half.
“Manila Water also built 27 private cubicle shower areas for patients and 10 in a converted container van for medical workers,” the group said.
“For its part, IMI is providing two sanitation booths at the entrance of the facility and another two at the exit,” it added.
Other donors include: The Philippine Constructors Association, which contributed cubicles for the facility; Smart Communications Inc., which set up the WiFi internet connectivity; and San Miguel Corp., which is supplying the center’s alcohol requirements. MDC construction partners also contributed supplies and equipment to complete the fit-out of the facility. Collectively, Ayala’s partners in this initiative contributed P29.5 million.
Several companies were tapped to provide security, cleaning and maintenance, and laundry services. Food commissary suppliers and a cafeteria operator have also been recruited.
The cost of medical equipment, supplies, and services will be shouldered by the National Government along with private donors and other financiers.
Public, private sectors bolster efforts vs pandemic
Partnerships between the government and the private sectors are further helping the country deal with the COVID-19 outbreak that has been stretching the health care system to near breaking point. Hospitals are nearing capacity, frontliners continue to put their lives on the line, and communities need all the help they can get. The two lead sectors are joining hands to deliver.
Isolation facilities
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has entered into an agreement with the municipality of Bagac, Bataan for the use of the firm’s Bagac Hotel and Conference Center as an isolation facility.
Under the deal, three spacious cottages will be provided free of charge as transition housing for recently discharged hospital patients who need to be isolated for 14 days before they are permitted to reunite with their families.
On March 27, the state-run firm submitted an inventory of its assets, including real estate properties to the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy for possible consideration for the national government’s projects, programs and activities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, PSALM also increased the power allocation for two electric cooperatives in Mindanao (Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative and Maguindanao Electric Cooperative) to ensure the stability of electricity in the region for the whole duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Overall, the two electric cooperatives will net a 59.88 megawatts capacity for this month as a temporary emergency measure, especially to make sure that hospitals and frontline services in their area will not experience any power outages.
PSALM is mandated to privatize power-related assets owned by the government. However, its corporate life is only until 2026.
San Miguel Corp., meanwhile, continues to strengthen its involvement in efforts to mitigate the effect of the pandemic by building 10 emergency quarantine facilities (EQF) near military hospitals to house personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 who have mild or no symptoms, and, more importantly, help ease pressure on health facilities flooded by patients needing intensive medical treatment.
SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the company is looking for more areas where prototype hospital facilities can be built as existing emergency rooms of hospitals brace for a surge of patients.
“We are one with the country in finding ways to accommodate more patients as hospitals reach their full capacity. These emergency COVID facilities we are helping build will serve our military front liners and PUIs in surrounding communities,” Ang said.
The 10 facilities will have 15 beds each and will be located beside the following military health facilities: NOLCOM Hospital in Tarlac, SOLCOM Hospital in Lucena City, Eastmincom Hospital in Davao City, CENTCOM Hospital in Cebu City, Westmincom Hospital in Zamboanga City, Veterans Memorial Center, CJVAB Hospital in Pasay City, Naval Air Group in Cavite City and WESCOM Hospital in Palawan.
BIYAHEnihan
Under its flagship disaster relief program #HyundaiSAGIP, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) through H.A.R.I. Foundation Inc. (HFI) has rolled out its BIYAHEnihan program in Southern Luzon to support frontliners.
BIYAHEnihan will provide transport for health workers and medical supplies to St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center (SFCMC) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Dr. JP Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Calamba, Laguna.
Both hospitals have been strong partners of the Hyundai Logistics Center (HLC) in Laguna. SFCMC provides HLC monthly medical health bulletins while Dr. JP Rizal Hospital provides the logistic center employees triage for medical emergencies and conducts health and safety training with the Philippine National Red Cross.
Initial deployments include a Hyundai Country Bus, a Hyundai Starex, and a Hyundai HD65.
HARI through HFI is also reinforcing ongoing COVID containment efforts with a fresh supply of 2,500 PPEs for front liners at the UP Philippine General Hospital.
Bills payment
PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. have extended the bills payment for the mobile and broadband services following the extension of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon.
In an advisory, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communication Inc. said they are offering a six -month instalment bills payment for the PLDT Home, Smart and Sun postpaid subscribers.
Under this payment program PLDT Home, Smart and Sun consumer postpaid subscribers can settle their unpaid balances as of April 30, 2020 in six equal monthly payments with zero interest and no penalties. It will be implemented starting on May 1, 2020.
Globe Telecom Inc. also announced that it has extended the payment due date on postpaid mobile and broadband bills by another 30 days to ensure subscribers to continue to be connected with their loved ones.
Business and enterprise customers are covered.
Globe initially provided a 30-day extension which expired on April 15.
Portable cellsite
PLDT wireless unit Smart Communication Inc. has deployed portable cellsite at one of the Department of Health’s (DOH) primary COVID-19 facilities, to boost mobile and internet service in the area. This is the company’s latest partnership with LGUs and government hospitals to provide communications assistance.
In a statement, Smart has deployed Multi-Element On Wheels (MEOW) or portable cell site equipment at San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Manila, which will augment Smart’s Long Term Evolution (LTE), third generation (3G) and second generation (2G) services in the area.
Fast, free and reliable 24/7 Smart WiFi has also been deployed in newly activated facilities for COVID-19 patients, as well as in campuses that are housing COVID-19 frontliners. Carrier-grade Smart WiFi connectivity is also available in provincial capitols, city and municipal halls across the country, which are being used as a base of operations for local government logistics, transportation and relief, as well as in hospitals, supermarkets and convenience stores.
PLDT, Smart and ePLDT also developed COVID-19 emergency hotlines in partnership with the DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for Filipinos seeking consultation and forwarding concerns about the disease. The 24-hour help line may be reached at 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843) and 1555.
PPEs, food packs
The Clark Development Corp. and the Widus Foundation Inc. donated P2 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to various hospitals in two provinces in Central Luzon and grocery items for needy communities .
They recently distributed PPEs for frontliners in 16 government hospitals in Pampanga and Tarlac provinces amounting to P1.5 million. In addition to PPEs, P500,000 worth of relief goods were distributed to some 1,000 families-beneficiaries.
Hospital beneficiaries ares: Pampanga Provincial Hospital: Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital Pulmonary Center; Ospital Ning Angeles (Rafael Lazatin Memorial Hospital); Ospital Ning Capas; Health and Sanitation Division of CDC; Bamban Municipal Health Office; Candaba Infirmary Hospital; Dr. Emigdio Cruz Memorial Hospital; and R.P Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (CSF, Pampanga).
Beneficiaries of grocery items are pre-identified families in Pampanga and Tarlac .
Bayanihan goes digital
MultiSys Technology Corp. is bridging the gap between crisis responders and the public through a website called StaySafe.ph which will be available later in Android or iOS as a mobile application.
A Philippine number is required to register after which the system will collect information about the user’s current state of health, focusing on symptoms related to COVID-19. The system will issue a preliminary assessment of the user’s condition depending on his or her answer to the survey checklist.
StaySafe.ph provides people with an alternative access to government responders on top of busy hotlines already in place. A person who experiences symptoms can log in and register, or update if already registered, his or her account.
Fil-Chinese groups
The Filipino Chinese community through the Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF), comprising 11 major Filipino Chinese business, civic and cultural organizations, has raised P265 million in donations as of April 14 to undertake on-going charities and civic projects to help alleviate the difficulties of marginalized peoples whose livelihoods have been disrupted, and to give strong support to our front-liners in the medical field, our police, soldiers and others.
FCCCF has distributed medical supplies such as N95 masks, surgical masks, personal protection equipments (PPEs), gloves, safety goggles, sanitizing alcohol, thermos scanners and others have been donated to medical, police and military frontliners nationwide. It has also distributed donations of food packs of five kilos rice and donations of rice sacks to the urban poor families of Metro Manila and to the rural poor in the provinces.
