Date: March 26, 2020 | Source: CNN Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) – San Miguel Corporation beefed up its efforts in helping communities affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19.

The Ramon Ang-led conglomerate announced on Thursday it will donate 560,000 kilos of rice as part of its relief efforts to assist communities that are vulnerable to the disease and the effects of the quarantine.

“Starting this week, we will also be adding rice to our food donations,” Ang said in a statement. “We have been able to source 560,000 kilos of rice. We plan to give 10 kilos per family and through this, we hope to be able to continue to help the most vulnerable among us – people who are out of work and families struggling to eat.”

Ang, who is the president and chief operating officer of SMC, also reported that their food donation drive has reached 126,000 families.

SMC provided 1.1 million pieces of canned goods, 695,000 sachets of coffee, 288,000 packs of biscuits, 21,630 servings of its version of “nutribun” and 24,338 servings of pandesal. It has also donated spreads, dairy milk drinks, and water.

SMC’s food donations are being coursed through various channels, including local government units, charitable groups, and church organizations. It has also made direct donations to hospitals and various communities all over Luzon.

LGUs that received food donations from San Miguel include Manila, Caloocan, Las Pinas, Malabon, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Navotas, Marikina, Paranaque, Makati, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela.

Hospital beneficiaries include the Philippine General Hospital, The Medical City, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Las Pinas General Hospital, and the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Families under the care of SMC’s Better World Tondo, a food bank and learning facility established last year, were also beneficiaries of the food donations.

SMC also utilized its manufacturing facilities to produce 70% ethyl alcohol to address the shortage of hand sanitizers and disinfectants, and is also donating 13,000 units of its own Protect Plus Gold powdered disinfectant for the sanitation of hospitals and government and public facilities.

Ang stressed the company, through its San Miguel Foods business, is committed to continue providing food donations to those who need it the most.

Ang also assured the public that the company has the capacity to produce enough food for the country for the next six months.

“What we want is for food to be one less worry of vulnerable families, health workers, and front-liners against COVID-19,” he said.