San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is donating 560,000 kilos of rice to various communities throughout Metro Manila as part of its ongoing initiative to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the hardest-hit Filipino families.
“One week after the Community Quarantine was first implemented–followed by the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine—we have been able to deliver food to some 126,000 families through various channels,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said.
“Starting this week, we will also be adding rice to our food donations. We have been able to source 560,000 kilos of rice. We plan to give 10 kilos per family and through this, we hope to be able to continue to help the most vulnerable among us – people who are out of work and families struggling to eat,” he added.
Ang reported that the company had, thus far, provided 1.1 million pieces of canned goods; 695,000 sachets of coffee, 288,000 packs of biscuits, 21,630 servings of its version of “nutribun” and 24,338 servings of pandesal. It has also donated spreads, dairy milk drinks, and water.
Ang stressed that the company, through its San Miguel Foods business, was committed to continue providing food donations to those who need it the most, even as he assured the public that the company has the capacity to produce enough food for the country for the next six months.
SMC’s food donations are being coursed through various channels, including local government units, charitable groups, and church organizations. It has also made direct donations to hospitals and various communities at over Luzon.
Families under the care of SMC’s Better World Tondo, a food bank and learning facility established last year, were also beneficiaries of the relief effort.
“What we want is for food to be one less worry of vulnerable families, health workers, and front-liners against Covid-19.” he said.
LGUs that received food donations from San Miguel include Manila, Caloocan, Las Pinas, Malabon, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Navotas, Marikina, Paranaque, Makati, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela.
Hospital beneficiaries include the Philippine General Hospital, Medical City, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Las Pinas General Hospital, and the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
The company has also utilized its manufacturing facilities to produce 70% ethyl alcohol to address the shortage of hand sanitizers and disinfectants, and is also donating 13,000 units of its own Protect Plus Gold powdered disinfectant for the sanitation of hospitals and government and public facilities.
Photo Sources: goodnewspilipinas.com, cnnphilippines.com
