LISTED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) assured the public that it is prepared to supply food, fuel, and power during Metro Manila’s strict lockdown, which will last until the third week of August.
This comes after the government placed the National Capital Region under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest protocol for mobility, from Aug. 6 to 20.
In a press release on Tuesday, SMC President Ramon S. Ang said that “there is nothing to worry as far as supply is concerned.”
“We’ve had a lot of learning from last year and we adjusted the way we operate. We are better prepared for sudden disruptions,” he said.
“As we did during the previous ECQs, we have business continuity plans in place that will allow for essential, critical operations to continue under the strictest safety protocols. This assures our government and the public that for our part, we can continuously provide food, power, and fuel during this critical time,” he added.
Mr. Ang said the firm expects “minimal disruptions” to the supply of essential food, fuel and electricity since most of SMC’s facilities are located in various provinces outside the capital.
SMC said that customers who want to buy products without going outside can access the company’s virtual marketplace “The SMC Hub,” which allows users to order food essentials and pet care products online.
Last year, SMC spent over half a billion pesos on food donations for poor communities.
The conglomerate is among the country’s leading food and beverage, power, fuels and infrastructure companies.
Shares in SMC at the local bourse shed 0.66% or 70 centavos to close at P105.80 apiece on Tuesday. — Angelica Y. Yang
