Transmission firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking lawmakers’ imprimatur for it to be allowed to import Covid-19 vaccine tax-free as these doses will be used for its employees.
NGCP President Anthony L. Almeda said with this gesture from the State, businesses would be able to bounce back and they could consequently “give the economy much-needed boost in activity.”
The transmission company also has various activities and projects affected by the pandemic, therefore, it will be very crucial for it to bring in vaccine the soonest possible time especially for its employees since NGCP’s line of business and function is very critical in ensuring the country’s reliable electricity supply.
NGCP has massive human resources of 5,000, and the company admitted that it has been closely monitoring the progress and rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in other countries.
Taking cue from developments on the other parts of the world, the transmission firm indicated that it is also prudently assessing the possibility of providing vaccine doses to its employees, including its essential workers like grid dispatchers and transmission personnel.
Relative to NGCP’s appeal, Almeda propounded for a passage of a law “encouraging the private sector to provide vaccination to its employees.”
He explained that “vaccination, as well as mass testing, is focally critical in the fight against Covid-19,”
adding that with these measures, entities like them would be able to “prevent, detect, isolate and treat” personnel who would be affected in the workplace.
Almeda similarly pointed out “we need to jumpstart the economy now, but we need to ensure that we stack the odds against infections in the workplace.”
He thus emphasized that “with a vaccination program in place for the private sector, more businesses and industries will be able to regain some semblance of normal activity, bounce back and put the economy on its way to recovery after almost a year of slowdown.”
As the world is now on its last stretch into accessing the ‘cure’ to the niggling pandemic, Almeda similarly called on counterparts and peers in the private and public sectors “to be similarly proactive in protecting their employees, so that we can keep the economy running at full speed.”
And while the company waits for the vaccine and continues to operate efficiently, it noted that it has been stepping up on its commitment “to enforce all health and safety protocols,” as mandated by the Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Employment.
NGCP further stated that it keeps on with its drive in helping local governments, national health agencies and various agencies in battling the health crisis.