THE private sector mobilized its resources to purchase 7,000 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital that was turned-over to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Provincial Capitol Monday, July 6, 2020.
Lacson thanked the donors saying the donation comes at a perfect time and can be utilized to test migrant sugar workers when the milling starts in a couple of months.
The Bayanihan Test Kit initiative was conceptualized by Mary Jean Trebol along with the St. Scholastica’s Bacolod Alumnae Foundation. The group saw the need for the private sector to help the local government in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and tapped the business sector and sugar industry stakeholders to donate to the cause.
Sugar advocacy group, Tatak Kalamay also took part in mobilizing industry stakeholders and facilitated initial discussions with various groups, including the province, on the project’s implementation.
Under the program, the provincial government will make use of half of the tests for their utilization to address public health issues while the rest will be allocated to persons that will be nominated by the donors.
Major contributors to this project are sugar planters, Tony Trebol and Mike Hinojales of MIGAN Corporation, Victorias Milling Company, FF Gonzaga, Inc., the Asociacion de Agricultores de la Carlota y Pontevedra Inc. (AALCPI), Vice-Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and partners in the FHTC Agricultural Corporation, AC Rivero Corporation, Theo and William Chua of MC Metroplex, VCY Sales, and LEM Agricultural Corporation.
Present during the turnover were VMC President Minnie Chua and VMC Administrative Officer, lawyer Eva Rodriguez, Gerro Locsin and Dave Alba for AALCPI, Theo Chua for MC Metroplex, Nathaniel Barcoma for VCY Sales, Sugar Regulatory Administration Board Member, lawyer Dino Yulo along with Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Manman Ko. (PR)