San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang assured the public that the company is adequately prepared to supply much-needed food, fuel and power throughout the two-week lockdown aimed at containing surging COVID-19 cases.
The company, he said, is also prepared to continue providing assistance to disadvantaged communities spanning its businesses around Metro Manila. SMC has already spent over P14 billion to support the fight against the pandemic, mounting the biggest food donation drive in history.
“I would like to personally assure everyone that we have enough food inventory to last even many months. We’ve had a lot of learning from last year and we adjusted the way we operate. We are better prepared for sudden disruptions,”Ang said.
He added: “As we did during the previous ECQs, we have business continuity plans in place that will allow for essential, critical operations to continue under the strictest safety protocols. This assures our government and the public that for our part, we can continuously provide food, power, and fuel during this critical time.”
Ang added that with most of SMC’s facilities located nationwide in various provinces outside Metro Manila, the company expects minimal disruption to the supply of essential food, electricity, and fuel.
SMC is one of the country’s leading food and beverage, power, fuels, and infrastructure companies.
“There is nothing to worry as far as supply is concerned. For now, please prepare to stay at home, protect yourselves and your loved ones. Even if you are all vaccinated, please exercise greater caution as the delta variant is more transmissible,” Ang said.
For those wanting to access products safely from their homes, SMC recently launched a new online marketplace, The SMC Hub, to allow consumers to order from its full line of food products–from fresh and frozen poultry, meats, value-added products such as canned food, ready-to-eat meals, dairy, milk, coffee, even animal and pet care products.
To help the country achieve herd immunity, SMC recently implemented the nationwide rollout of its Ligtas Lahat vaccination program for 70,000 employees and workers across its nationwide network.
The company said it had taken delivery of 150,000 doses of Astra Zaneca vaccines, enough for all its employees, and has accelerated vaccination at its facilities across major cities and provinces all over the country.
Meanwhile, he said: “Our food donation drive for poor communities continues through our Better World Tondo food bank and feeding center, as well as various efforts in other cities. We will coordinate with the LGUs and our own non-profit partners to make sure we can help bring food and protect our less-privileged countrymen from hunger,” he said.
Last year, SMC spent over half a billion pesos on food donations for poor communities nationwide. This made up only one part of an over P14 billion pandemic response package that has included various efforts to support the national and local governments, the medical sector, and its workforce, throughout this critical period.