San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it has completed providing life insurance coverage to about 5,000 medical front liners from 18 hospitals across Cebu, who are now insured for P2 million each.

“We started this initiative several months ago, at the height of COVID-19 cases in Cebu, when our medical front liners there were really having a hard time. Many of them were also testing positive for the coronavirus. We wanted to do something to help protect them, and to show our solidarity and support for them,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

With the insurance packages, obtained through Cocolife, Ang said that medical front liners in Cebu can now have added security as they save lives and fight the virus.

“Saving lives is still our highest priority. Unfortunately, COVID-19 can affect anyone, even our doctors and nurses. As much as possible, we cannot lose any more lives, especially not our medical front liners, because they are the ones tasked to save lives. Through this effort, we hope they feel that their everyday sacrifices are valued and appreciated,” Ang added.

Under the program, SMC pays for all the premiums for the insurance of medical front liners. Thus far, SMC’s P2 million coverage-each insurance package has benefited front liners in the following Cebu hospitals:

Perpetual Soccour Hospital (459), Cebu Doctors University Hospital (254), Southwestern University Medical Center (36), St. Vincent General Shopital (99), Mendero Medical Center (77), Visayas Community Medical Center (62), Adventist Hospital Cebu (189), Chong Hua Hospital (1,303), Cebu South General Hospital (125), Cebu Velez General Hospital (143), Cebu City Medical Center (12), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (65), Talisay District Hospital (30), Arc Hospital (44), Cebu North (91), Mactan Doctors’ Hospital (155), Allegiant Regional Care (305), Univeristy of Cebu Medical Center (278).

Some 61 Infectious disease specialists and pulmonologists and hundreds of other medical workers were also provided the same insurance coverage.

Since the start of the pandemic, SMC has been at the forefront of private sector efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Its P500 million medical response package has included donations of RT-PCR COVID-19 testing machines, fully-automated RNA Extraction systems, and PCR test kits to public and private hospitals nationwide. Its donations have raised the country’s PCR testing capacity by 15,000 tests per day.

It has also donated Adult Nasal High-Flow machines, personal protective gear, and additional PCR testing kits and swabbing booths for local government units.

SMC continues to support medical front liners by waiving toll fees for them at all its operating expressways, namely STAR, SLEX, Skyway, NAIAX, and TPLEX. It also provides free fuel for government’s free shuttle service program for medical workers.