Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — A top Cebu businessman is the latest COVID-19 fatality in the southern province.
Vivant Corporation Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Dennis N.A. Garcia died on March 28 due to complications brought about by COVID-19.
According to a statement released by his family on Monday, Garcia had pre-existing respiratory health issues, specifically emphysema, before contracting the COVID-19 infection.
Garcia was hospitalized at Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital on March 25, where he tested positive for COVID-19. The result of his test was released on March 28, the same day he died.
In line with guidelines set by the Department of Health, Garcia was cremated the morning of March 29, a day after he died.
“Vivant is working with the Cebu City government to track his movements in the two weeks prior to his hospitalization in order to identify people he was in close contact with for monitoring, quarantine and possible testing. We will also make this information available to any other affected LGUs and/or national agencies,” the statement added.
The statement did not indicate how the businessman contracted the disease.
Vivant Corporation is a Cebu-based electric power firm, the part owner of the Visayan Electric Company, which is the biggest power distributor outside of Metro Manila.
Stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report.
