Three business tycoons heeded President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to help the employees being affected by the community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon.
San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon Ang, Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific-Salim Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Ang, Ayala, and Pangilinan published their separate statements after President Duterte on a televised address asked the business tycoons to take care of their employees that might be absent for one month because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ang’s San Miguel Corporation said that they’re already assured the government of enough supply to feed the Filipinos amid the OUTBREAK.
They’re also planning to use one of their plants to make alcohol sanitizers that they’re going to give for free.
“We will provide essential services such as food, water, power, petrol products, and beverages to everyone,” Ang stated.
Ang said all employees of SMC would continue to get paid despite the quarantine and any form of work discontinuation.
This is also the same with Ayala, announcing that employees of their company are going be paid during the month-long quarantine period in Luzon.
They prepared a P2.4-B COVID-19 emergency response package consisting of “wages, bonuses, leave conversions and loan deferment” for its employees.
The group also said that they’re not going to charge their tenant who is affected by the closing of Ayala-owned malls.
Ayala is also going to distribute its mid-year bonuses earlier starting on March 17.
Meanwhile, Manny V. Pangilinan said that their employees should not worry because they’re going to receive salary despite being absent due to community quarantine.
“Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis. We have asked them to Work from Home.” Pangilinan said.
Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis.
— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 16, 2020
They’re also planning to give the 13th-month pay in full for PLDT, Smart and Meralco employees.
We are also taking the following measures to ensure the well-being of our employees:
1) Advance 13th month pay in full for Pldt, Smart, and Meralco employees
2) Continuation of salaries and benefits of all employees.
— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 17, 2020
Malacanang is not yet releasing a statement on the recent move of the tycoons.
It can be remembered that President Duterte criticized Pangilinan and Ayala over a water deal between the government, Maynilad and Manila Water.
However, it seems that the President and the tycoons agreed to have a ceasefire to focus on helping the people affected by COVID-19.