Together healing as one

I have previously written about the efforts of the MVP Group of Companies, either on its own or in response to government’s call to the private sector, in this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As President Duterte so clearly elucidated, as long as there is no vaccine yet, then the quarantine stays. And, so, here we still are, in a community quarantine, albeit of a more general rather than enhanced kind.

Lives have been lost and disrupted by this pandemic. Thus, the work of Tulong Kapatid, the MVP Group CSR effort at the consortium level, continues with much purpose, with much vigor.

We learned in law school, as a basic principle, that taxes are “the lifeblood of government.” The current administration would need all the available funds in the fight against the disease.

In response to the clarion call of the Department of Finance and of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to raise funds for the fight against the COVID-19, companies of the MVP Group advanced and committed to advance a little over P10 billion in taxes. This, despite the extension of deadlines for tax payments by the BIR as part of quarantine measures.

The PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) built on its continuing partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by extending much support to its frontliners. The foundation recently turned over 20 sets of thermal scanners with face shields, surgical masks, headcap/shoe covers and reusable masks.

One Meralco Foundation also donated 6,000 liters of alcohol for use in the Camp Aguinaldo Hospital and other military facilities.

PLDT-Smart and Meralco chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan personally donated 1,000 food packs for the soldiers and their families.

PLDT and Smart also launched the rolling store for the AFP as well as special offers for the frontline workers, including discounts on PLDT, Smart, and Talk-N-Text products and services.

Philex Mining Corp. realigned P13.67 million of its Social Development and Management Program fund for cash and kind assistance to the Benguet provincial government, the City of Baguio, and the municipalities of Itogon and Tuba. It likewise extended assistance to the Benguet and Baguio hospitals, as well as to the PNP-CAR.

The Tulong Kapatid effort had likewise reached out to various local government units in and out of Metro Manila.

In the National Capital Region, Tulong Kapatid — composed of PLDT-Smart Foundation, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), Metro Pacific Investment Foundation, TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. (AKFI), and Maynilad Water Services Inc. — distributed food packs and vegetables to barangays in Muntinlupa, Quezon City, and North Caloocan; distributed food packs, bottled water, hygiene kits and face shields to the river warriors of Quezon City, the ones responsible for cleaning the city’s rivers, streams, and other waterways.

PLDT-Smart Foundation donated 500 grocery packs to the City of Mandaluyong as well as mobile phones, pocket Wi-Fi, internet in quarantined areas, and smart messaging. It also provided internet for barangay halls, public schools and hospitals, as well as tablets for 13,500 students.

PLDT-Smart Foundation, together with PLDT Enterprise and Maynilad Water Services Inc. donated 1,000 grocery packs and bottled water to the cities of Malabon and Navotas.

The TV5 AKFI donated PPEs to various Metro Manila hospitals, while the Metro Pacific Investment Foundation donated PPEs to various hospitals in Mindanao.

Outside of Metro Manila, PSF and OMF donated rice, vegetables, and dressed chicken to Fr. Al’s Children Foundation Inc. for 4,000 students who were housed in Adlas Boystown and Biga Girlstown in Silang, Cavite.

Tulong Kapatid likewise reached out to Aeta communities in Botolan and San Marcelino, Zambales.

It is important to note that Tulong Kapatid distributes food packs and vegetables also as a means of helping our farmers with their produce not going to waste, considering the limitations to the sale of these goods during quarantine time.

All in all, helping each other and one another as a form of healing during this challenging time. We continue.