Stakeholders laud Aboitiz Construction for effective COVID-19 protocols
Local government units and private firms commended Aboitiz Construction, Inc. for its strict compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines, open communication, and close coordination as it continues its business operations while ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for its team members (construction workers and regular employees) and stakeholders under a “new normal.”
Part of Aboitiz Construction’s guidelines to combat the spread of the virus is actively following government-mandated health protocols and the company’s close coordination on COVID-19 updates with the local community’s government officials where the company’s projects are present.
“Aboitiz Construction has established an organized and planned response to COVID-19. We commend the company for their commitment and support to the City Health Office of Batangas City, their good communication and optimism in handling the situation,” said Ruel Arce, Barangay Captain of Barangay Pinamucan Ibaba, in Batangas City.
The barangay also recognized Aboitiz Construction’s leadership, sharing that the confidence and collaboration exemplified by construction site leaders have translated into an outstanding response to the needs of construction workers while focusing on their safety and health.
“These strengthened COVID-19 measures of Aboitiz Construction reaffirms the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality and safety standards in the workplace, ultimately building a better future for its clients, stakeholders, and team members under this new normal. We remain one with the country in battling COVID-19, guided by the company’s core values, safety, and preventive measures set by Aboitiz Group and government institutions,” said Antonio Peñalver, Aboitiz Construction Executive Director.
Strict observance of social distancing, wearing of masks and face shields, assigning of COVID-19 marshals and regular sanitizing are done in project sites
In addition, Aboitiz Construction is working closely with its clients and stakeholders on-site to properly roll out existing and new safety protocols to team members. These include regular disinfection of project areas, setting up isolation facilities, assigning of COVID-19 marshals to control and monitor physical distancing, and usage of face masks and face shields, among others.
“Aboitiz Construction’s COVID-19 protocols have drastically improved over the months.The company is compliant in terms of legal aspects, case management, and emergency response. They have improved their procedures in detection, isolation, and surveillance,” said Jay Kabamalan, the Field HSSE Manager of Aboitiz Construction client Technimonth and JGC Philippines Joint Venture.
Isolation Facilities
Aboitiz Construction has also arranged designated isolation facilities to prevent any possible exposures, break any on-site COVID-19 transmission chains, and most importantly, to quarantine any possible team members displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
Its project site in Batangas City has booked 20 hotel rooms with the necessary amenities to keep Aboitiz Construction team members safe and comfortable during possible isolation. A Project Nurse and doctors are also available to monitor the team members’ health.
“Maganda yung napiling hotel, systematic, action agad ang Aboitiz Management sa mga kailangan mag-isolate,” said Robert Abucay, an Aboitiz Construction team member.
Daily health monitoring, as well as free food, cleaning materials, disinfectants, and deodorizers are provided to team members during their stay at these facilities.
“I’m blessed, sobra, grabe ang pag care ng Aboitiz. Kakatukin ka lagi ng health care workers para tignan ka, may kasamang food, sobrang alaga talaga,” shared Fortunato Puentenegra, another Aboitiz Construction team member.
When asked about how the Aboitiz Construction management takes care of its frontline workers tasked to handle probable COVID-19 cases, Project Nurse Gretchen Solloso shared, “The management has supported us, provided and equipped us with the resources needed to do our job safely; above all, the management has hired enough manpower of health workers in the site to ensure balanced workload while tending for the welfare of all team members.”
