Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8) — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) continued to contribute to the government’s efforts to battle COVID-19 in the country by turning over equipment to the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 on Monday.
Fifty-five Adult Nasal High Flow machines were given to the task force, which will then be distributed by the Department of Health to hospitals nationwide.
Secretary Vince Dizon, who is the chief implementer of the NTF on COVID-19, has also commended SMC for quickly stepping in to help during the crisis.
NTF chairman Delfin Lorenzana expressed his gratitude to SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang, adding the donation would lead to more recoveries.
“Maraming nagsasabi na yung recovery rate ng PGH (Philippine General Hospital) at ng ibang hospitals ay tumataas dahil sa introduction ng High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC). Ito ay non-invasive at hindi kailangan ng intubation,” he said.
“I think, among the private sector groups I think San Miguel stands out as one of those who have responded fastest and responded in a dramatic way to this call by the President for everybody to pitch in and help,” Dizon said.
[Translation: Many say the recovery rate of the PGH and other hospitals is rising because of the introduction of the High-flow nasal cannula. This is non-invasive and does not require intubation.]
SMC has been actively supporting the government’s response to COVID-19. The company has donated medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and health workers, built quarantine facilities, and made food donations to communities.
Despite personal difficulties, Hizon lauded the way Ang never faltered in helping the country.
Among its contributions are swabbing booths, test kits to boost community-level COVID-19 testing in Metro Manila.
He added, “The contributions that they have given to this effort have been way, way more than what was expected and especially for Mr. Ang with the difficulties he and his family have gone through for the past of couple of months. You know, it’s just really something amazing, that they’ve manage to rise above those personal and family difficulties and really come to help the country in such a huge way.”
