Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) —2Go Group chairman Dennis Uy said Wednesday that the company will be waiving the ₱35-million fee for the use of its two ships as quarantine facilities.
The Davao-based businessman said while the Transportation Department has offered to pay the company ₱35-million for the use of the two vessels, 2Go intended to offer the utilization of the ships as a donation to the government.
“2GO is providing two vessels to serve as quarantine facilities free of charge to the Filipino people. Even if the government offers to pay the ₱35 million, we in 2Go, in good conscience, have no intentions of accepting their offer,” Uy said.
He added that if necessary he will even shell out from his own pocket to fund the operation of the two ships, which he said costs around ₱260 million.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said Thursday that the government is paying 2Go ₱35-million for the use of the two ships as quarantine facilities for returning overseas workers and seafarers.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who serves as the spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases, earlier thanked 2Go for working with the Transportation Department for setting up the floating quarantine facilities.
“Most of our kababayans stand ready to help in our time of need. Isa po dito ang 2Go who the DOTr is working with to set up a floating hospital that will be able to serve 1,500 patients, as well as a smaller ship that can handle 300 more,” Nograles said on April 4.
