SMC delivers free alcohol to frontliners

SAN MIGUEL Corporation (SMC) started delivering free rubbing alcohol to front liners in Metro Manila through the Department of Health, hospitals, crisis centers and LGUs in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

This, as the company earlier announced it was utilizing one of its Ginebra San Miguel Inc. facilities to produce 70% ethyl alcohol, following a shortage of alcohol used by people as a disinfectant and sanitizer.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang said: “With the help of the Food and Drug Administration and our dedicated employees, we were able to produce alcohol which we hope will go a long way in helping our

doctors, nurses, and everyone on the frontlines of this fight against the virus.” “This alcohol is “ready-to-use, gentle on skin and is as effective as any regular rubbing alcohol. They also come in containers that can be returned and refilled, so that we minimize plastic wastes,” he added. While bulk of the supply will be channeled through the DoH, SMC said it also delivered free alcohol and powdered disinfectants to hospitals across the National Capitol Region (NCR) to address their immediate needs. These include: Philippine General Hospital, St. Luke’s Global City, East Avenue Medical Center, National Kidney Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Las Pinas General Hospital, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Hospital, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital. They also provided free alcohol to the National Center for Mental Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Rizal Medical Center, San Lorenzo Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, Capitol Medical Center, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital, UST Hospital, and Ospital ng Maynila. The company said it also provided alcohol to 12 checkpoints manned by the Philippine National Police who are enforcing the enhanced community quarantine measures set up by the government. “We have just started implementation of this initiative, but we assure you, we will continue to provide this service to the government so we can help more hospitals and communities,” Ang said. Apart from providing free alcohol, SMC is also delivering food donations to local government units in Metro Manila, to help address the needs of vulnerable families and communities throughout the community quarantine period.