Pitmaster Foundation donates cash, testing kits worth P100M to MMDA
PITMASTER Foundation donated P100 million in cash and testing kits to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in response to the alarming spread of the Covid-19 in thickly-populated Metro Manila.
According to Pitmaster Executive Director Atty. Caroline Cruz, the foundation wants mass testing in every city in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help the government in its fight against the rampaging virus.
Metro Manila ranks as one of the thickly populated areas in the country, having a population of 13,484,462 based on the latest census. The number accounts for 12.37 percent of the country’s total population.
“This is our contribution to the government to have mass testing in every city at NCR, and immediately isolate those infected to avoid the virus spread among families and coworkers,” Cruz said.
Many government offices, industries and private offices are within the highly-urbanized cities in the NCR, thus making it highly susceptible to the rapid spread of the virus.
“According to experts, lack of early detection of Covid patients has been causing rapid spread of the virus in NCR,” Cruz said.
Cruz stressed that the foundation’s chairman, Charlie “Atong” Ang, wants to see that all residents in the NCR undergo testing, especially those who have symptoms.
“If he can have his way, our chairman, Charlie “Atong” Ang, wants all residents in NCR, especially those with symptoms, to undergo testing,” she said.
Cruz personally handed over the P50 million cash and P50 million worth of testing kits to the MMDA in a simple ceremony witnessed by Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing (Chairman, Taskgroup of Communities Response, IATF), Department of Health NCR Director Dr. Gloria Balboa, MMDA Deputy Chairman Frisco San Juan and General Manager Atty. Don Artes at the Ynares Sports Arena in Rizal.
In response, the MMDA promised to distribute the cash donations and the testing kits to local government units in Metro Manila.
Cruz said that Pitmaster Foundation has remained open to those in need of dialysis and chemotherapy requirements only.
“Just proceed to our website and register. We will take care of the expenses,” Cruz said.