SMC donation for COVID-19 efforts nears P1 billion; help extends to Iloilo, Leyte

MANILA, Philippines — The donation of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in the Philippines is nearing P1 billion.

Apart from helping communities in Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces, SMC’s help has reached as far as Iloilo and Leyte as its total donation has reached P947.7 million.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang said his company’s goal is to keep providing food for the Filipinos and give them hope in this time of uncertainty.

“Our people are working hard to be able to extend our assistance to more provinces and communities, and to support our national government’s efforts,” he said.

“Our goal is to help keep our countrymen away from hunger and illness, and somehow in our own way, give them hope during this difficult time.”

The bulk of SMC’s help has been given to the medical sector with around P500 million being used to purchase personal protective gear from local and international suppliers to better equip the frontliners in their battle against the virus.

As of April 14, SMC has allotted P227 million in food donations that include canned goods, biscuits, and milk while 1.1 million kilograms of rice worth P38.4 million were distributed.

Ginebra San Miguel’s facilities have been converted from making gin to produce 864,740 liters of 70% ethyl alcohol worth P64.9 million.

SMC has also donated flour to Metro Manila and other provinces while its bread-making donation extended to the National Council for Indigenous Peoples in Tanay and to military camps including Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Isabela, and Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite.

“We are also sending more flour donations to poor communities in Payatas, Tondo and other depressed areas that really need help. With the help of LGUs and local bakers, they can have nutritious and filling breads, which is a staple for Filipinos families,” Ang said.

The company has also given P100 million to Project Ugnayan, a broad coalition of business groups that are helping in the fight against COVID-19.

It has also allotted P5 million for the construction of emergency quarantine facilities in military camps in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In terms of transportation, SMC donated P5.3 million worth of fuel to the Department of Transportation and Metro Manila Development Authority.

It’s also provided free passes to 4,691 health workers using the STAR Tollway, SLEX, NAIAX, Skyway, and TPLEX.

Ang added that the company is looking to use strategically-placed Petron stations and other SMC facilities as distribution points for the nutribun.