'KATRE-KARPINTERO'. A carpenter in Dinagat Islands builds a bed for the Covid-19 patient care centers in the province. Dubbed 'Katre-Kapintero', the initiative aims to equip the province's care and containment centers located in seven municipalities, while providing employment to 21 carpenters. (Contributed photo)
CAGDIANAO, Dinagat Islands – This province's “Katre-Karpintero” initiative to produce more beds for Covid-19 quarantine facilities in the province earned the support of Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC), which provided building materials for the project.
Governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, who also heads the Dinagat Islands Inter-Agency Task Force for Covid-19, said Tuesday the beds produced from the “Katre-Karpintero” program are primarily for the Municipal Care and Containment Centers (MCCCs).
Initially, Bag-ao said the 150 beds are to be distributed to all seven municipalities -- Cagdianao, San Jose, Tubajon, Libjo, Loreto, Basilisa, and Dinagat.
“Thank you to CMC for immediately responding by supporting our “Katre-Karpintero” program. Equipped with sufficient materials, 150 beds were completed in record time. Of course, this also provided extra income for our carpenters,” Bag-ao said in a statement.
CMC, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) that mines nickel in Barangay Valencia here, provided the materials and the labor expenses amounting to PHP500,000 for the 21 carpenters build the 150 beds in five days.
Represented by its resident mine manager Arnilo Milaor and community relations manager Rudilyn Velasco, CMC turned over the marine plywoods, wood glue, lumber, round bar, nails, and liquid tiles on June 16.
“The total amount of PHP577,024 used to purchase the materials came from CMC’s Corporate Social Responsibility budget,” Milaor said.
Dr. Jillian Francise Lee, provincial health officer, underscored the importance of putting up additional beds for the province's care and containment centers in different municipalities.
“This project aims to provide the much-needed beds in every MCCC especially now that we have locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and those coming in via the ‘Balik Probinsya’ program,” Lee said.
As of Wednesday, Dinagat Islands remains Covid-free, the provincial government said, even as it continued to closely monitor the health and safety of the communities.
CMC--a holder of multiple ISO (International Standard Organization) certificates for the environment and occupational health and safety management systems--said it remains committed to abides by the stringent guidelines and protocols imposed by the government to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. (PR/PNA)
