By JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS
HEEDING the calls of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, SM Group of the Sy family take the lead among key players in the private sector in showing compassion to the public being plagued by the dreadful corona virus disease.
Rentals waive nationwide
The SM Supermalls announced on Wednesday that it will waive rentals to all tenants nationwide from March 16 to April 14, 2020 thereby giving tenants some sort of relief during this trying time, so that they can in turn lend more assistance to their employees during the period of Community Quarantine.
“We share our tenant partners’ concerns at the unfortunate situation and will waive rental charges for those affected and unable to operate during this period,” said SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan.
This support forms part of SM’s commitment to fight the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to its recent announcement that it has allocated PhP100M to provide protective equipment and supplies towards hospitals for the safety of medical front liners, as they actively fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Allocates P100M for protective supports
Meanwhile, a P100-M budget is also allotted for protective gears of frontliners and beat covid-efforts.
“To ensure the safety of medical frontliners, SM is bringing in personal protective equipment (PPE) – face masks, gowns, visors, hoods, gloves, and shoe covers, as well as urgent medical supplies to help government hospitals who badly need them,” said SM Prime’s Hans Sy.
Assistance has also been extended to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Research Institute for Tropical Management (RITM) for their urgent needs and for improving their laboratory testing capacity. SM has also allocated PPEs and medical supplies to the UP Medical Foundation Inc. to reach a wider network of hospitals.
To improve availability of tests, SM has reached out to Manila Healthtek Inc. to distribute 20,000 tests for free to government hospitals, once approved for use.
Finding ways in time of COVID-19
On the part of BDO Unibank, the banking arm of the SM Group, it has assured the public that it will ensure manageable banking hours that will surely serve its clients.
“Over the past few days we have taken steps to ensure, as best we can, continued and uninterrupted service you have grown accustomed to. Given the enhanced quarantine procedures and the limited transportation available, we have taken steps to ensure continuity of service and ease of adjustment on your part during this difficult period,” the bank statement reads.
BDO also assures the public of enough branch openings, cash availability and loan payment accommodations.
A 60-day grace period is also extended for loan payments of qualified clients.|- BALIKAS News Network
