The State Grid Corporation of China, led by SGCC Philippine Office Chief Representative Shan Shewu, with Economic & Commercial Counsellor Jiang Jianjunof the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines, and representatives from NGCP, turned over 500,000 face masks to the Philippine Red Cross through PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla.
As the world continues the fight against COVID-19, medical supplies and equipment are becoming essential tools in the fight to slow and stop the spread of the virus. Around the country, doctors, nurses and other health workers rely on personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves from contacting the virus from the patients they care for. Similarly, the sick, elderly, and the immunocompromised are also more vulnerable to the disease if they do not have the right protective equipment.
Cognizant of the pandemic here in the Philippines and the needs of health workers, frontliners, and volunteers around the country, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), through State Grid International Development Co. Limited, a shareholder of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) since 2008, immediately committed to donating much needed surgical face masks to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
SGCC Philippine Office Chief Representative Shan Shewu said, “During these challenging times, it is important that friends (China and Philippines) fight together to stop the spread COVID-19.”
In support of the government’s efforts to fight COVID-19, NGCP earlier also committed to a donation of Php 1 Billion in food packages and medical equipment. NGCP President & CEO Anthony Almeda said, “NGCP will continue to look for opportunities to support the government in battling this pandemic. We recognize that the only way to defeat this global health threat is through our collective efforts.” Distribution of grocery items and medical equipment in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are ongoing.
On May 8, the SGCC Philippine team together with its partners at NGCP delivered on its commitment and turned over 500,000 surgical face masks shipped from manufacturers in China to the PRC National Headquarters. The PRC will be distributing these PPEs to its front liners, including blood and rapid testing facilities staff, ambulance crew, hotline volunteers, and other staff in the health services sectors to combat the spread of COVID-19.
PRC Secretary General Ms. Elizabeth S. Zavalla accepted the donation of the SGCC on behalf of PRC. According to Secretary General Zavalla, “On behalf of the Philippine Red Cross, I would like to thank SGCC for this timely donation. These masks will be given to facilities which are in need of PPEs and will also be used by our PRC frontliners especially now that we have our own COVID-19 testing centers.”
The boxes containing the donated masks bore the old Filipino saying, “Ang tunay na kaibigan, hindi nag- iiwanan (Real friends never leave you),” a message that shows the friendship between the Chinese and the Filipino people.
Also present in the turnover site are Economic & Commercial Counsellor Jiang Jianjun of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines, PRC officers as well as officers of SGCC Philippine office and NGCP.
SGCC is the largest public utility firm in the world with operations in countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Australia, Italy, Greece and Oman. Their first investment outside China was in the Philippines through NGCP in 2008. NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy, Jr. and Robert Coyiuto, Jr. partnering with SGCC.
