Lucio Tan Group to make ethyl alcohol for DOH, hospitals

A barrel of rum made by Tanduay Distillers Inc. under the Lucio Tan Group. Photo from the LT Group website

MANILA, Philippines — Local liquor makers from Lucio Tan’s Group is now creating 70-percent ethyl alcohol for health workers who are frontliners in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis, as the nation faces a dwindling supply of the antiseptic.

Tanduay Distillers, Inc. and Absolut Distillers Inc. (ADI) have donated the first batch of 5,000 4-liter bottles of alcohol as disinfectant for the use of  to the health department and another 5,000 bottles to non-government organizations and medical facilities.

“Producing alcohol for disinfection is one way we are doing our part in helping keep our communities safe,” ADI chief operating officer Gerry Tee said in a statement.

And while some may prefer the beverage kind to while away their time quarantined in their houses, Tee said the companies decided to shift gears and converted their distilleries to make ethyl alcohol in the meantime to supply frontliners in hospitals and medical facilities.

“During these challenging times, it’s important that we step up and help each other. We have transformed our distilleries to produce ethyl alcohol to supply the need of our kababayans. From Luzon, we aim to deliver next to Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.

The Lucio Tan Group has existing distilleries namely in Lian, Batangas and in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.

Earlier, conglomerate San Miguel Corporation said it is also looking to produce 70 percent ethyl alcohol at one of its facilities and distribute the product for free to communities through their local government units.

EDV