MANILA – Private consortium Megawide engaged in government projects has donated new communications equipment to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in support of its crisis communications program.
On Monday, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar led the ceremonial signing and turnover of donations of equipment, such as satellite phones, portable radios, and generator sets that will be utilized for the Laging Handa Program.
“Indeed, the importance of public-private partnership cannot be overemphasized, amidst the pandemic that we, as a people, are battling. The government is playing its part by doing its utmost, in order to ensure that the health and safety of the people are protected and secured,” Sec. Andanar said.
“However, we also have to recognize that even the government has its limitations, specifically, in terms of resources. That’s where the private sector steps in; that’s when their assistance becomes a vital element of governance,” he added.
The engineering and infrastructure conglomerate has been a partner of the Duterte Administration’s Build, Build, Build Program and one of the biggest private allies in responding to and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 in the country.
Megawide also fielded volunteers and subcontractors to build quarantine facilities around Metro Manila, along with other partner organizations, to help decongest hospitals.
Secretary Andanar expressed gratitude for the support of the Megawide Foundation in highlighting the importance of information in times of emergencies.
“The equipment that Megawide Foundation has donated shall greatly contribute to the Communications Disaster-Response of the PCOO through the Laging Handa platform, led by Director Princess Duque,” Sec. Andanar said.
“The Foundation donated satellite phones, portable radios, generator sets, among others, which shall help the Laging Handa Team in communicating timely, accurate, and relevant information to and from the people,” he added.
Megawide Construction Corp. Assistant Vice President Jason Torres, commended PCOO for coming up with the Laging Handa communications platform, likewise noting that the donation represented their modest support to help mitigate the impacts of disasters.
“Megawide subscribes to the principle of mitigating, if not eliminating, risks in the workplace. And just like in the workplace, we want to be of help in making our country a lot safer for Filipinos,” he said as he recounted the calamities that hit the country, while COVID-19 persists.
“We hope that through this donation, we can spread that principle to a wider audience and contribute to the elimination or mitigation of the impact of disaster. This way, we can reduce the human and economic costs,” he added.