By Minerva Newman
NEGROS ORIENTAL — The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has provided assistance to local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Negros Oriental in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
EDC has allowed the provincial government to use its 20-footer air-conditioned container van as swab collection area, said Noreen Bautista, EDC Corporate Social Responsibility head of Negros and Mt. Apo.
Bautista said that Valencia town, which hosts the geothermal facilities of EDC, got EDC assistance with its rural health unit receiving 12 folding beds for use in its isolation facility in Barangay Palinpinon, and at a checkpoint in Barangay Puhagan.
With most families having no earnings due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, EDC distributed food packs in Barangays Caidiocan and Malaunay, and allowed the use of its power sprayer for disinfection purposes at the barangay checkpoint.
The People’s Development Council (PDC), a coalition of non-government and sectoral organizations in Dumaguete, also received cash donation from Bautista who initiated a fund-raising campaign from EDC employees.
“This generous contribution will greatly help ease the hardship of the economically displaced informal sectors in the city due to COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nancy Estolloso, the council’s convenor.