Aboitiz boosts vaccination efforts in Davao and Tarlac
The Aboitiz Group, through its vaccination programs in various communities nationwide, continues to strengthen its support of the national and local governments’ push for herd immunity in the country. Two of the Group’s most recent projects include the ongoing vaccination drive in Davao City by Davao-based business units (BUs) Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., Hedcor, Inc., and Therma South, Inc., and the recent donation of AstraZeneca vaccines by food unit Pilmico, for the residents of Capas, Tarlac. Both projects are executed alongside the Group’s corporate social responsibility arm Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., and in partnership with the corresponding local government units.
Over 9,000 Davaoeños inoculated
A total of 9,432 residents from the Second District of Davao City were successfully vaccinated at F. Bustamante Elementary School in Barangay Tibungco. The mass vaccination drive, which ran from October 9 to 23, 2021, was organized by the Davao-based Aboitiz business units in partnership with Davao’s City Health Office and Department of Education XI.
This exceeded the initial target of 500 doses per day, reinforcing the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to ensure the health of the community and strengthen the local government’s drive to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year.
“We are very grateful to the Aboitiz Group for stepping in and initiating this vaccination program in Barangay Tibungco. This program is a significant and humbling experience for me, together with my team, to be allowed to help our community and to be able to work with the Aboitiz Group for this very noble and life-saving cause,” said Barangay Captain Merjade Calvo of Tibungco.
Local residents patiently wait for their turn to register at the vaccination center. [Photo Credit: Brgy. Captain Calvo]
The business units commenced the vaccination drive’s second leg in the Third District at Tacunan Elementary School in Tugbok District, last October 25. It will run until October 30 and will resume on November 2 to 7. For its second leg, the group will be implementing the same safety protocols with the same target number of 500 jabs per day.
This public-private partnership project of the City Government of Davao and the Aboitiz Group shows that with close collaboration, vaccination objectives and herd immunity can likely be achieved.
“We are happy to heed the City Government’s call for support in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to the community. It is a privilege for the Aboitiz Group to serve the Davaoeños in these challenging times and actively help Davao City recover faster from the pandemic. We’ll continue to support the city’s mission to reach herd immunity through our three vaccination sites,” said Apo Agua Operations Head Shake Aboitiz Tuason. Currently, Davao City has at least 700,000 fully vaccinated citizens, securing 62.19% of the population.
Tarlac LGU receives 1,200 AstraZeneca vaccines
(From top left) The virtual turnover ceremony last October 25, 2021 was attended by Hon. Reynaldo L. Catacutan, LL.B., DPA, Municipal Mayor of Capas, Tarlac and Dr. Franchette Reyes, RHU Head of Capas, Tarlac; Tristan Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Pilmico Foods Corporation Philippines; Maribeth L. Marasigan, president and chief operating officer of Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.; Norie Bermudez, first vice president and chief operating officer for feeds of Pilmico Foods Corporation (bottom left); and Christopher Camba, first vice president for corporate external relations of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (bottom right).
Meanwhile, Food unit Pilmico, through Aboitiz Foundation, turned over 1,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Municipality of Capas, Tarlac last October 18, 2021 in support of the LGU’s vaccination efforts.
Pilmico President and CEO Tristan Aboitiz reaffirmed the company’s continued support to help the country recover from the impact of the pandemic, especially the partner-communities of the Group and its businesses.
“Capas has been a longstanding partner of Pilmico for more than 20 years. More than that, Capas has been Pilmico’s home for over 20 years. In times of uncertainty in the past, we could count on Mayor Rey Catacutan and his team and the community of Capas to help us in Pilmico to move forward into the future. So I see it as only fitting, and our duty, that we are now able to give back to the community that has been very good to us and that has supported us for all these years,” Aboitiz said.
Maribeth L. Marasigan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Aboitiz Foundation lauded the efforts of the local government in protecting its citizens during these trying times. “We are inspired and motivated by the commitment of Capas LGU in fighting against COVID-19. Congratulations to Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan and the Capas COVID-19 Task Force. We hope that these vaccine donations will help the Municipality of Capas achieve herd immunity. We have one thing in common—that is, to beat the challenges of our time and to co-create a resilient, empowered, and sustainable community,” she said.
Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan expressed his gratitude to the Aboitiz Group for the donated vaccines. “Malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa Aboitiz at Pilmico. Napakalaking tulong nito sa bayan ng Capas.”
