MANILA – The Aboitiz Group has announced it will cover the inoculation of all its team members and subcontractors to help protect them from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines will be offered to more than 30,000 regular employees and subcontractors, to help build the community’s immunity against the virus. Each business unit will work directly with their respective subcontractor partners on the details of the vaccine rollout.
“Our team members’ health and safety will always be our number one priority. Even before the vaccines arrive, we have been planning for the efficient distribution of vaccines for our team members and subcontractors, in adherence to government guidelines. This is to ensure an effective deployment program,” Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz said.
The Aboitiz Group, which has already contributed over PHP2.2 billion to the country’s Covid-19 response effort, was among the first 30 private companies to sign a deal with the national government and AstraZeneca under the private sector-led ‘A Dose of Hope’ program.
It is a tripartite initiative among the private sector, the government, and British drugmaker AstraZeneca, in support of the national immunization program.
Aligned with the Philippine government strategy on vaccine rollout, availing Aboitiz team members and subcontractors shall be vaccinated in batches, prioritizing front-liners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities, then the rest of the population.
Meanwhile in the Asean region and other countries, Aboitiz team member vaccinations will be driven by various country governments where Aboitiz operates (particularly the Food Group), namely Singapore, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Brunei.
A vaccinated workforce will allow the Aboitiz Group to lead and significantly contribute to keeping the economy thriving under a better normal.
“The way we lead our organization will determine the future of everyone who depends on us. We supply close to 20 percent of the country’s power and distribute electricity to major cities across the regions; we supply our partners in food that provide close to 20 percent of the flour and feeds for the bread and pork we eat; we produce close to 20 percent of the cement used in building our country,” Aboitiz said.
The Aboitiz banking and financial services, infrastructure, and land also play pivotal roles in helping rebuild the economy.
“Our business unit in banking plays a major role in leading the digitalization of the industry, and our land and infrastructure teams are headed towards the 20 percent number. So, it is safe to say that close to 20 percent of the country is relying on us,” Aboitiz added. (PR)
