Lopez Group donates P100M to DOTr’s COVID-19 response efforts

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday it received a P100 million donation from the Lopez Group of Companies to boost its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response efforts.

Citing a letter of intent from the First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPHC) of the Lopez Group of Companies, the DOTr said the conglomerate expressed its support for the commitment of the agency in addressing the pressing need to increase the limited capacity of the country’s health system.

The company said that its donation will help a great number of Filipinos who are now in need of treatment for possible COVID-19 infection, according to the DOTr.

“FPHC also mentioned that it was inspired by the approach taken by the Department in providing returning seafarers and other Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with assistance in their mandatory quarantine, and in some cases, with their medical treatment,” it said.

FPHC’s letter was addressed to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, and to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia.

To recall, the DOTr has partnered with private shipping companies to convert passenger ships into temporary quarantine ships as authorities expect an influx of repatriates amid the coronavirus crisis.

The quarantine ships will serve as temporary accommodations for returning seafarers and other OFWs as they complete their 14-day quarantine, as ordered by the Department of Health (DOH).

The ships will accommodate both asymptomatic persons and persons who have not undergone COVID-19 testing.

In addition, the DOTr will soon set up quarantine terminals to attend to the medical needs of returning seafarers and other OFWs who manifest mild coronavirus disease symptoms.

“It is heartwarming to know that the medical needs of our OFWs, our returning modern-day heroes, remain to be top-of-mind. This is the least we can do for a sector who has played a significant role in enabling our economy over the years, especially at this time that uncertainty hangs over their hearts and minds,” the FPHC letter stated.

Tugade said the donation made by FPHC will be of great help to fund the needs of the DOTr, especially the maritime sector, in the operation of the quarantine ships and the quarantine terminals.

“It is truly overwhelming that during these trying times, the support and selflessness of our private sector partners keep on coming to back us up. We are extremely grateful to the Lopez Group for this enormous help. Gagastahin natin ito ng naayon sa tama at nararapat. Maraming kababayan ho natin ang siguradong makikinabang dito," Tugade said.

For his part, Santiago committed to make sure that the donation will be spent appropriately, and that the establishment of another quarantine facility will be swiftly implemented.

“We will ensure that every centavo donated will be accounted for and spent according to its intended purpose. Now, we are already in the process of planning the conversion of the Eva Macapagal Terminal into a quarantine facility. As Sec. Tugade instructed, we will exert all our efforts for this to be established and be of use very soon,” Santiago said.—AOL, GMA News