PECO HELPS FRONTLINERS

Medical-grade PPEs donated to WVMC

Panay Electric Co. (PECO) Corporate Communications Officer Jon Mikel Afzelius delivers personal protective equipment to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City as part of PECO’s effort to help in the fight of the Ilonggos against the lingering COVID-19 crisis.
Panay Electric Co. (PECO) Corporate Communications Officer Jon Mikel Afzelius delivers personal protective equipment to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City as part of PECO’s effort to help in the fight of the Ilonggos against the lingering COVID-19 crisis.

ILOILO City – To help avert a larger public health crisis here, Panay Electric Co. (PECO) responded to calls for more safety and health protection for healthcare frontliners and donated medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPEs) to major hospitals.

The PPEs consist of 500 sets of hazmat suits sourced from US chemical and materials giant DuPont.

Made from Tyvek material, the hazmat suits provide essential protection to frontliners and first responders fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Additionally, 500 sets of face-covers and Kn95 masks were supplied to reduce the risk of frontliners contracting the disease from the potentially infected.

“Given the gravity of the situation, we consulted with the medical community so they could tell us what they need,” shared PECO head of Public Engagement and Government Affairs Marcelo Cacho.

Medical workers at the Western Visaays Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City receive personal protective equipment from Panay Electric Co.
Medical workers at the Western Visaays Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City receive personal protective equipment from Panay Electric Co.

Aware that PPE supplies are low in the country right now, Cacho said if anyone would like to donate to frontline medical workers, “we would be happy to help connect them with our supplier so they can purchase PPEs at the original price.”

In the spirit of bayanihan and to help donors overcome current shipping challenges, PECO will also help facilitate the shipments to Iloilo’s major hospitals.

“We really just want to help in this trying time. We need to work together and overcome this crisis as one,” Cacho stressed.

He further added, “Being in a hazardous industry ourselves, we understand how vital it is for our health frontliners to be amply protected. We’ve always believed that they should have the best and right tools for the job.”

PECO turned over its donation to both the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), which is the largest hospital in the city, and the Western Visayas Sanitarium.

One of the hazmat suits was urgently sent to Iloilo Mission Hospital to enable doctors to perform surgery on a patient from Guimbal, Iloilo, a town where there are three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19.

In the whole country, 17 doctors have passed away due to COVID-19. They did not have enough protection, according the Philippine Medical Association on Thursday.

Cacho said PECO does not want the same to happen to Iloilo.

“Iloilo’s health professionals and medical experts are putting themselves at risk for us, so it’s vital that we do what we can to keep them safe,” said Cacho. “We want to thank those on the frontline for their bravery. People are understandably scared right now, so we hope this will help them feel more at ease.”

For donations, inquiries can be directed to admin@panayelectric.com or PECO’s official Facebook page.

Prospective donors may also call 333-PECO to take part in the relief effort./PN

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