THE Aboitiz Group has stepped up its relief efforts and committed a month of food provisions for around 200 patients and frontliners at the Rizal Memorial Quarantine Facility.
The temporary medical facility opened on April 8 with 112 beds, after the Razon Group completed its transformation. It is being managed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Corps.
Through its corporate social responsibility arm Aboitiz Foundation, the Aboitiz Group will provide the three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to the medical and administrative personnel assigned to man the quarantine facility.
Aboitiz will closely work with the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps, as well as the Department of Health in the operations of the facility that would handle Covid-19-positive persons with mild symptoms and persons under investigation and monitoring.
“The Aboitiz Group continues to ensure that our initial support to our brave Covid-19 frontliners and patients will be sustained in the days to come. We hope that by addressing the immediate nutritional needs of the healthcare staff and patients at the Rizal Memorial Quarantine Facility, we are able to strengthen the ‘warriors’ fighting the battle to defeat Covid-19 in our country,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer (CEO).
“We will continue to work together and support the government, because we are all in this together,” Aboitiz added.
The Rizal Memorial Quarantine Facility is located in the Ninoy Aquino Basketball Stadium within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
It is among quarantine facilities that are equipped with necessary medical equipment and provisions that would ensure the quick and comfortable confinement of patients.
"The quarantine facilities will have air-conditioned cubicles, free food for patients and the frontliners, free access to Internet connection, and 24/7 monitoring by doctors and nurses,” Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Vince Dizon said.
Other facilities that will be converted into quarantine areas are the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City Circle, Amoranto Stadium, Quezon Institute, PhilSports Complex, Duty Free, Food Terminal, Inc. Station in Taguig City, and the Filinvest Tent in Alabang.
Work is also under way to transform the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, the Asean Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga, and the New Clark City Government Center in Capas, Tarlac, as well as the New Clark City Athletes’ Village.
Apart from the Aboitiz and Razon Groups, other private sector companies helping the national government in this initiative are EEI Corporation, Vista Land, the Ayala Group, Filinvest, Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines, World Trade Center Metro Manila, Lina Group of Companies, Meralco, PLDT, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, D.M. Consunji, Inc., and Concepcion Industrial Corporation.
“Ito po ay tunay na bayanihan (This is truly cooperation,)” said Dizon, describing the public-private collaboration for this initiative. (PR)