There is a need for individuals, companies and groups to step up if we are to overcome these difficult times and return to some form of normalcy.
Many automakers and distibutors are stepping up by providing vehicles and even team members to help with the transport of so-called front-liners — medical personnel and hospital staff— in the war against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
TOYOTA
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is among the first to step up, lending out 47 units — and still counting — to various hospitals and local government units.
Hospitals and LGUs benefitting from Toyota’s brave volunteerism include Philippine General Hospital, Ospital ng Makati, East Avenue Medical Center, Mary Johnston Hospital in Manila, Binangonan Lakeview Hospital, Unihealth Parañaque Hospital and Medical Center, City Government of Santa Rosa / Santa Rosa Community Hospital, City of Manila Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno and the Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Lent out units included, among others, the Vios, Innova, Fortuner, Rush, Hiace, RAV4, FJ Cruiser.
Toyota said that to ensure the safety of TMP personnel and the frontline workers, protocols for sanitation, safety, and health would be strictly observed.
The company said it would continue to reach out to other LGUs and hospitals to see how it could help in the fight against the spread of the pandemic.
“From my last post, I got very good suggestions from my Facebook friends to lend support to our frontliners, in whatever way we can. I would like to thank you for your suggestions! We have coordinated with various LGUs and government hospitals to lend our company vehicles for the daily transportation of health workers. Rest assured that we are doing the best we can, even in small ways. I hope that with our combined efforts, and everyone doing their part, we can fight Covid-19! Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong, PILIPINAS!,” said TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto in his Facebook post (@TMPPresidentsOffice).
VOLKSWAGEN
Also stepping up is Volkswagen Philippines of AC Motors which provided three Volkswagen Crafter units to FamilyDOC of AC Health for the entire duration of the Luzon-wide quarantine. Volkswagen also volunteered drivers for each unit.
According to online reports, the Crafter vans are being used to ferry healthcare workers of FamilyDoc clinics and to deliver such vital necessities as food, alcohol, and personal protective equipment.
MITSUBISHI
Another car company that has stepped up to the plate is Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation which has lent a number of L300 FB vans to the Department of Transportation for use as “transport for health workers, support staff and other frontliners from Sta. Rosa City in Laguna to Muntinlupa City and vice versa during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period.”
“Mitsubishi Motors acknowledges the sacrifice being done by our frontliners. From the people in the medical field, our uniformed personnel, food and service crew, security guards and other support personnel, we salute your bravery, selflessness and dedication in protecting our communities from this virus,” said MMPC president and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri.
ISUZU
Also stepping up to volunteer its vehicles to help transport health workers is Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC).
Isuzu said it turned over two Dmax units and one Mu-X unit to the local government of Biñan. The vehicles are expected to be used to ferry medical front-liners to several hospitals in Binan and Sta. Rosa.
It added that it also lent one Mu-X and one NLR PUV to the Medical City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, again for use to transport its medical and other needed staffmembers.
Isuzu said it will continue to reach out to other hospitals which need vehicles to transporting personnel and needed supplies.
Said IPC president Hajime Koso, “As the world, including the Philippines, faces an unprecedented health crisis threatening countless lives, our healthcare workers and frontliners—the doctors, nurses, medical researchers, hospital and clinic technicians, and other staff—have risked their own lives to help stop the pandemic, while caring for those who have contracted the disease. And they have been performing such selfless work tirelessly, without letup. With these vehicles, we at IPC hope that our dedicated and enduring heroes in the hospitals would find comfort and safety in their transport. Through our vehicles, we can help them fight the virus more effectively.”
FREE BUS SERVICE
These efforts of automakers and distributors complement the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) initiative to provide free bus services to front-liners in the fight to contain and defeat the COVID-19 virus.
As of March 27, the DOTr’s Free Bus Service Program has expanded to 18 routes covering sectors within Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. The Free Bus Service caters to hospital workers from doctors and nurses to administration personnel, utility workers, security officers, and pharmacists.
The DOTr said the program is being undertaken with the help and cooperation of private companies such as HM Transport, San Agustin, MetroExpress, RRCG, Megaworld Corp. (Citilink), Precious Grace, Grace Transport, Ceres, Jac Liner, Dagupan Bus, St. Rose Transit, Hafti Transport, Jasper Jean, Pascual, Hi-Star, Pamana, Ube Express, G-Liner, Thelman Transit, Manrose, Pilipinas Autogroup, Beep, Star 8 and automotive company Foton.
CHEVRON
Also stepping up to help front-liners is Chevron Philippines, marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants.
Aside from donating more than half a million pesos to to the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation Inc. (PGHMFI) to address the shortage in medical supplies and personal protective equipment, Chevron also partnered with several groups providing free transport services to front liners.
Caltex partnered with JAC Liner to provide fuel support amounting to P250,000 to four shuttle buses servicing frontliners and health workers. The donation covers buses in the routes from Paranaque Integrated Terminal to Alabang and Ortigas to Shaw Boulevard until the first week of April. It also partnered with Grab in providing free transport for front-liners.
“Caltex is one with the Philippine nation and our frontliners and health workers in battling this global pandemic. We are actively responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and while we continue to closely monitor our operating environment, we are also supporting PGH, JAC Liner, Kaya Natin! Foundation, and Grab Philippines in their mission to help curtail this virus. We hope this crisis will soon be over and that everyone stays safe,” said Chevron country chairman Louie Zhang.
Happy Motoring!!!
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