Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said it will spend nearly P1 billion to inoculate all its 70,000 employees and extended workforce for free.
San Miguel in a statement said it has secured COVID-19 vaccine doses from various sources and is currently laying the groundwork for its vaccination strategy in coordination with relevant government agencies.
This move, San Miguel said, will help the country in its effort to build a collective defense against the virus, which has claimed millions of lives worldwide.
“Our program is in line with our core value of malasakit and aims to create a safe and healthy workplace so that we can further contribute to our country’s economic recovery,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.
While the vaccines will be administered to employees on a voluntary basis, Ang expressed hope that all eligible workers will sign up to be inoculated when the doses become available.
“It is our civic duty and our best chance at protecting ourselves and those we love. It is the best thing we can do today to help contain this pandemic, protect the vulnerable, and help speed up economic recovery,” he said.
Ang said San Miguel will use vaccines that have complied with rigorous safety protocols and are authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.
He, however, said that until the vaccine is widely available, the company will continue to strictly follow public health measures such as wearing of masks, physical distancing and good hygiene to protect its workforce and minimize the spread of the virus.