As the Philippines continues its battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), patients infected by the virus have been steadily increasing everyday.
Last July 14, reported cases of COVID-19-positive individuals reached 57,545, while hospitals and quarantine treatment facilities are getting cramped with patients and medical frontliners working double time to help those who are in need.
The next few weeks may seem grim for the country as the daily cases are piling up, but frontliners are always reminded that they are not alone in this battle.
Many local government units and private companies have provided aid to frontliners with supply packs, financial aid and other services.
Listed below are the good Samaritans, who have come to the aid of our frontliners.
San Miguel Corporation has been a standout in terms of helping frontliners, COVID-19 patients and ordinary people.
True to their "Walang Iwanan" COVID-19 relief efforts, SMC showed its commitment by providing 40,000 personal protective equipment to medical workers, testing booths for frontliners and 85,000 liters of fuel for shuttle services.
As of July 2, SMC's COVID-19 response efforts have reached 13 billion pesos.
Shell Pilipinas Corporation has provided help through power packs containing water and food to give energy to the frontliners working in these trying times.
Aside from food packs, Shell gave fuel discounts to medical workers, police, military and logistics drivers involved in COVID-19 response.
SM Foundation has been steadily helping frontliners through its donation of face masks, while providing meals for the frontliners, who have tirelessly kept the country safe.
SMFI, in partnership with Uniqlo and Goldilocks, provided more than 170 private institutions and governments nationwide with food and protective gear.
The MVP Group of Companies, led by their Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, has been one of the first companies to respond at the start of the pandemic in the country.
The MVP Group donated grocery bags to the families of health workers, hospital people and soldiers manning the checkpoints. They also provided 30 units of sedan and cargo vans, and 10 buses.
Local government units also showered frontliners with support through different means.
Pasig City, together with its amiable mayor, Vico Sotto, temporarily repurposed its Bike Share units at the start of the enhanced community quarantine to help government staff and health workers get to work.
In Navotas City, Mayor Toby Tiangco turned a building of vocational program into a housing facility for its frontliners battling the spread of COVID-19.
Tiangco hopes that the shelter would ease the burden on the health workers.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte promised to continue giving a helping hand through financial means for the frontliners, especially those who sacrificed their lives and succumbed to COVID-19.
Duterte asked PhilHealth to prepare an affordable treatment plan for medical workers affected by the virus.
Vice President Leni Robredo, on the other hand, helped frontliners with donations of PPEs and medical supplies, while providing temporary shelters for frontliners.
The Filipinos' "bayanihan spirit" is indeed alive.
