DAVAO CITY –— The Tagum Agriculture Development Company (TADECO) again donated a brand-new Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine unit worth P2.7 million this time to Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) on July 27.
Zeaus C. Vadil, Human Resource Assistant Vice President of the Banana giant, in an interview with Newsline.ph said the recent donation is the second PCR which the company shared “The first went to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) because we know they need additional machine given the situation”.
The use of PCR is currently the standard method of testing for COVID19.
Government hospitals and testing centers outside the National Capital Region have been struggling to get the quick result for every test they conduct to the probable coronavirus-19 patient, as it usually takes 5 to 14 days to get the result which is centralized at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). But, with the private company’s intervention, the testing centers outside Metro Manila has been efficiently helping the centers.
The plan to give the same machine to DRMC was earlier deferred because the hospital has yet to get accreditation from the Department of Health to run the center. However, just a few days ago, the DOH has issued the much-needed certificate which paved the way to the donation.
Vadil elaborated “Since the start of the pandemic, the Anflo Group of Companies have been helping the communities and government, both national and local, in the fight against Covid 19.”
The company has continuously provided the weekly supply of boxes of bananas to frontliners (checkpoints, health offices, gov. hospitals) in Davao Region.
They also donated PPEs to frontliners (facemasks, goggles, coveralls, etc.) – RT PCR machines (1 for SPMC and 1 for DRMC), test kits – food assistance to the communities, among others.
“We respond not because we are needed but because we need to,” he emphasized.
The banana firm is running a laboratory for their need “So we decided to share new equipment to the people of Davao region,” Vadil added.
Aside from the SPMC, the company has also shared the same with Davao del Sur Provincial hospital.
The company has earlier donated personal protective equipment to various government agencies and they even sent as far as the national capital region.
“We are manufacturing PPE for our business, who we shared also to the frontliners who are serving our people. It is not just a social or corporate responsibility but we view it as our contribution to the people who are there to help our people contain the infection,” he added.
The turn-over ceremony was done in a simple ceremony which was attended by the provincial government led by Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib with Chief of Hospital Dr. Bryan Dalid and Vadil, who represented the banana company.
Dalid said the donation came just in time when their molecular laboratory is being built and aimed to be completed by the end of August.
The donation will greatly benefit the people of Davao del Norte whose lives are challenging given the magnitude of the pandemic.
Jubahib in an interview with Newsline.ph said “The contribution of TADECO is very much appreciated because we need such equipment to respond to the Covid-19 challenge, I am thankful to the company for their contributions”.
The banana firm has been supplying loads of fresh bananas to the frontliners in the region and even in Metro Manila.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
