The National Task Force against COVID-19 announced its partnership with McDonald’s Philippines in providing RT-PCR testing for its employees in Metro Manila.
According to McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth Yang, the community testing initiative will ensure a safe workplace for its employees and dining experience.
“In McDonald’s, safety has always been our priority, not just with food, but with people as well. Kasi sa McDonald’s po naniniwala kami na if our employees, who are our frontliners if they are safe too, then we are able to keep our customers safe,” Yang said during the launch of the expanded testing program on Friday.
“Sa McDonald’s po ang ating sanitation and disinfection standards, we are always strengthening them. This project is another way of strengthening that,” he added.
The fast food giant targets to test over 19,000 of its crew and managers. The company has four identified mega swabbing facilities at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Lakeshore Bicutan in Taguig, and Palacio de Maynila in Manila.
McDonald’s also donated three testing booths to the Pasig City local government.
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McDonald’s Philippines to test over 19K employees for COVID-19
Meanwhile, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the NTF against COVID-19, said their partnership with McDonald’s is timely as the government aims to strengthen its relationship with the private sector in fighting COVID-19.
“This program is very timely kasi po sa NAP 3 natin, kailangan po talaga ng symbiotic relationship between the public and the private sector. Ito po nakita natin, gumaganda po ang ating mga numbers,” Galvez said.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa McDonald’s dahil ‘yung kanilang McDonald’s Safe program nakita natin na they are protecting their own frontliners, ‘yung mga employees nila, more or less 20,000 ‘yung kanilang itetest,” he added.
Galvez hopes that other business sectors will follow McDonald’s Philippines’ initiative.
“Napakagandang halimbawa na sana pamarisan din ng ibang business sector na they have to protect their own frontliners… and at the same time, they can protect ‘yung tinatawag nating confidence ng consumers to dine-in…” Galvez said.