Motoring Today Column

Apr 29, 2020

Fears of donor fatigue inevitably setting in as the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) continues appear to be unfounded.

Many individuals, families, groups and associations have come out to help feed and care for those in need, especially the poor who've lost jobs or livelihoods as as consequence of the ECQ. And provide transport to the medical and other front-liners amid strict travel restrictions.

Sterling examples include colleagues in the motoring beat like Anjo Perez whose family have been, since week one of the ECQ, daily cooking and distributing packed meals to front-liners in and around his community. Beneficiaries included medical and other staff of hospitals and clinics, as well as security guards who keep things safe and orderly in various neighborhoods. Without even being asked, friends and family reached out to the Perezes to donate cash and other goods to enable Chef Anjo to continue cooking delicious meals to sustain and support heroic efforts of front-liners to care for the sick.

Then there's Junep Ocampo of Oplan Hatid fame whose member-volunteers again banded together to help ferry front liners to and from home and work and transport medical and other vital supplies to hospitals and clinics.

A senior writer at STV also citesSammy Santos, a former colleague and Malacanang beat reporter at the Manila Chronicle, one of the prime movers of the initiative of his elementary ('73) and high school ('77) batchmates from Ateneo de Zamboanga University to pool resources in raising nearly three quarters of a million pesos in cash and kind to help feed and sustain families in Zamboanga suffering under ECQ.

These are but a few of the many instances of how the intrepid, generous and caring, through example and earnest effort, provide opportunities for others to help their kababayans-by donating time, service or money- in times of need.

This is aside from what is being done by big businesses and conglomerates who also have stepped up with initiatives and measures to support government efforts to stop the spread of the dangerous coronavirus that caused the pandemic and mitigate its dire effects on lives and livelihoods.

The auto and transport sectors have also stepped up with respective efforts to help front-liners, lending personnel and vehicles to transport front-liners, donating PPEs and food and other items.

As this is being written, authorities have announced the extension of ECQ in Metro Manila and other localities or regions with still increasing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 patients. But authorities have also identified many provinces or regions which may see some easing of restrictions under what will be called General Community Quarantine or GCQ.

The ECQ extension announcement has not met with as much weeping and gnashing of teeth as many would have expected. Perhaps many have seen the signs and accepted that ECQ and physical distancing protocols are still needed to flatten the curve and aid the country in surviving and overcoming the pandemic.

Perhaps it may also be because many are still willing to donate and be part of private bayanihan efforts. This is also true for many companies, including those in the auto sector which continue to look for ways to help out.

Isuzu Dealer

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) was one of the first companies to lend out vehicles and personnel to provide needed transport to medical frontliners, hospitals and local government units.

Perhaps inspired by IPC's volunteerism, Isuzu dealers have also come up with their initiatives. Like Industrial and Transport Equipment, Inc. (INTECO) which operates four Isuzu dealership and service centers.

INTECO has been part of efforts to assist the country's frontliners in the medical, hospital, armed forces and essential industries in the fight against Covid-19.

These include coordinating closely with the Department of Transportation to provide transport services for medical frontliners, materials to manufacture face shields and personal protective equipment (PPEs), relief goods and medical supplies.

It has also donated disposable bed sheets, face shields, face masks, and other PPEs to various medical institutions.

In a press statement, IPC president Hajime Koso lauded INTECO's efforts. "INTECO's valuable assistance to transport frontliners and essential goods, as well as providing various services in this crucial stage of the Filipino society's concerted efforts to quell the spread of CoVid-19 is truly the ideal example of an organization that truly embodies a 'responsible partner'. It is heartening to see not only INTECO step up to do what it can, but also the rest of the IPC dealership network in their own areas. Together, we will triumph over the most difficult adversities. IPC, together with the rest of the organizations in the local automotive industry, will do all that we can for the nation to overcome this global pandemic and at the same time ensure the security, health, and well-being of our employees and staff," Koso said.

Honda Support

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has announced that it is lending 15 cars to medical frontliners battling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

In a press statement, HCPI said: "HCPI provided various models of the cars comprising the City, Brio, Jazz, Mobilio, BR-V, HR-V, and CR-V models, to doctors and nurses of various hospitals including: the New Sinai MDI Hospital in Tagapo, Santa Rosa, Laguna; The Medical City South Luzon in Santa Rosa, Laguna; Unihealth-Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center in Biñan, Laguna; Westlake Medical Center in San Pedro, Laguna; and, the Carmona Hospital and Medical Center in Carmona, Cavite. Honda will be providing each car with free gasoline good for one month."

McDonald Pies

The Covid-19 pandemic is seeing partnerships of groups not usually seen together. District hospitals in communities linked by the Cavitex and the Calax tollroads are benefitting from a partnership of the Philippine Navy and the Ronald McDonald House of Charities, with the assistance of Metro Pacific Tollways South Management (MPT-South).

The partnership provided frontliners in the hospitals with 94 boxes or a total of 18,800 Rich Chocolate Pies from McDonalds.

MTC South said it helped in the coordination and endorsements with beneficiaries for the unhampered delivery of goods to their institutions.

"Even the smallest of gesture go a long way in this unfortunate time of COVID-19. The pandemic brought us unimaginable misfortune that cost the lives of many. Any act of kindness is worth supporting. We thank the Philippine Navy for partnering with us and considering our communities along CAVITEX," said MPT South Assistant Vice President for Communication and Stakeholder Management Arlette V. Capistrano.

Happy Motoring!!!

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