Ever Bilena owner to shoulder salaries of over 1,800 employees amid quarantine

Ever Bilena President and CEO Dioceldo Sy will be shouldering his employees' salary for the month of April, whether or not they could report for duty.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, he said that despite earning little to no income as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic takes a toll on sales, his 1,800 employees "are important to Ever Bilena."

"Consequently, I have decided to extend financial aid in the form of full salaries from April 1 to April 30, 2020, to provide you with relief and appease some of your worries during the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine," he added.

 

According to his daughter Denice Sy-Munez, Ever Bilena's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, the decision was made after her father heard that the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon would be extended to April 30.

In a Facebook post on Friday, she wrote, "The first thing that concerned us when the ECQ was extended was the livelihood of our employees. We have over 1800+ Ever Bilena family members... in a 46-day quarantine period."

"Despite very tight cash flows, because there is minimal to no income coming in for the type of products that we carry during crises like this, my heart tore when my dad told me he will shoulder their salary for the whole month of April—whether or not they are working from home, reporting to office, or unable to work (due to the nature of their job)," she added.

She said her father told her that their employees need them the most right now.

"I am reminded that we are in this business because so many rely on the company for a living. I am humbled because my dad is modelling to me by example that it’s not always about money or profit, but sometimes also about sacrifice, in order for a community to survive together," she said.

On Wednesday the Department of Finance shared that at least 1.2 million workers might temporarily lose their jobs due to the strict quarantine enforced by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The quarantine has prompted many establishments to temporarily close. Public transportation has also been suspended.

—Kaela Malig/JCB, GMA News