WITH the country grappling with the devastating effects of the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo have seen their local officials exert all efforts to mitigate the further spread of the virus, take care of suspected cases and treat patients in hospitals, and address the needs of hard-hit constituents.
Lending a hand in dealing with this unprecedented crisis are various private sector-led relief efforts from corporations and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the region.
These interventions have helped ease the strain experienced by local governments, especially those whose jurisdictions cover vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Among the companies that heed to the call to support is Coca-Cola, which has bottling plants at Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City and Barangay Ungka-II in Pavia town, Iloilo.
These two sites collectively employ over 600 regular personnel. With the pandemic, Coca-Cola has doubled down on prioritizing the welfare of its people and on providing support to the communities that have opened their doors to the company’s sites.
In line with its nationwide relief efforts, the company has been working to reach as many communities in Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
At present, a total of 146,803 liters of beverages have been distributed to beneficiaries, including direct support to local government units (LGUs), hospitals and municipal health centers, various checkpoints in different towns, and police stations.
In Negros Occidental, some of these beneficiaries include the Bacolod Task Force, cities of Bacolod, Talisay and Silay, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, Lady of Mercy Hospital, and police stations in Bacolod City, San Carlos City and Escalante City.
In Iloilo, hydration support was provided to the LGUs of Pavia, Estancia, and San Dionisio, West Visayas State University Medical Center, Buenavista Hospital, Nueva Valencia Health Center, Sta. Barbara Municipal Health Center, Medicus Medical Center as well as police stations in Sta. Barbara, New Lucena, Lapaz, Mina and Jaro.
Alongside the Covid-19 relief mobilization efforts, Coca-Cola has been making sure that the health and well-being of its employees are taken care of.
This was done through an employee assistance fund that ensures all employees got paid during the quarantine period, and it covers the advanced payout of the 13th-month pay and full health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage.
Moreover, to ensure safety within plant facilities, the company heightened its protocols such as temperature monitoring upon entry, the mandatory wearing of face masks within the facilities and outside when dealing with customers, and regular disinfection and sanitation of workspaces, trucks, and other equipment.
“As the pandemic in the country remains a developing situation whose challenges we must keep battling, support from the private sector can indeed go afar in filling existing gaps while augmenting aid provided by the government,” it said. (PR)