Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has ramped up its production of disinfectant alcohol by mobilizing all the distilleries of hard liquor arm, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), to boost the country’s war chest against the COVID-19 pandemic.
SMC announced on Monday that it had increased production of 70-percent ethyl alcohol—used as a disinfectant and sanitizer—to 100,000 liters per day to supply medical front-liners, cities and provinces nationwide during this state of public health emergency.
All the facilities of GSMI have been harnessed to produce alcohol round-the-clock nationwide.
“So far, we have donated 29,300 liters of 70-percent ethyl alcohol to 77 hospitals throughout Metro Manila, as well as the Department of Health, crisis centers, local government units, law enforcement agencies and other vital institutions. This is just the start. As we navigate through the challenges, we will continue to provide help where it’s needed,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.
“This is our way of thanking and supporting all our brave doctors, nurses, policemen, military, security personnel, delivery workers, employees of vital industries and so many others who are on the front line of this battle, saving lives and making sure the system is in order,” he added. Currently, the bulk of GSMI alcohol is produced in its Cabuyao plant in Laguna province. But with other GSMI facilities cleared to produce rubbing alcohol, supply is seen to rise and benefit more Filipinos nationwide.
These include Ginebra plants in Mandaue, Cebu; Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Distileria Bago in Negros Occidental; Cauayan, Isabela; and Ligao, Albay.
SMC has also revived the production of Nutribun—the vitamin-packed bread introduced to local public schools in the 1970s to combat child malnutrition—to support communities in need of food supply during this state of public health emergency.