MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay on Monday appealed to the tourism sector to donate pillows and beddings to healthcare facilities as the country grapples with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The hospitals and quarantine centers are already too overwhelmed and preoccupied,” Binay said in a statement.
“Broadly speaking, the TCP (Tourism Congress of the Philippines) can be the backline in this fight against COVID-19 by giving out soaps, donating pillows and linens, at iba pang kagamitan para sa mga quarantine centers natin (and other supplies for our quarantine centers),” she added.
Binay noted that under the government’s quarantine guidelines, all local governments are required to establish isolation units.
“The TCP is in a unique position to help and complement our hospitals and local quarantine centers,” the senator, chairperson of the Senate Tourism Committee, said.
“They have the backbone in providing viable solutions to quarantine challenges at this very critical time. Even by donating soaps can already spell hope,” she pointed out.
The TCP, the senator noted, is the government’s private sector counterpart created under the Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593).
It represents tourism establishments like hotels, resorts, theme parks, travel and tour operators and other stakeholders in the country’s tourism industry, she said.
The procurement of bedding essentials amid halted production is a key issue that must not be overlooked, Binay said.
She said tourism establishments are well equipped to respond to the challenge of constantly changing sheets.
“Daily reality ng mga hotel, inn, at iba pang hospitality establishments ang pagsiguro na malinis ang tutulugan ng kanilang customers,” the lawmaker said.
(The daily reality of our hotels, inns and other hospitality establishments is to ensure the cleanliness of their rooms for their customers).
“They are definitely well-equipped to deal with the issue of hygiene,” the lawmaker said.
She, likewise, expressed confidence that many establishments would answer the call for help, despite the tourism industry also taking a massive hit due to the outbreak.
“This would require sacrifice on the part of the private sector, pero naniniwala akong marami sa mga partners natin sa Tourism Congress ay willing naman tumulong at gawin ang makakaya para malagpasan natin ang krisis na ito,” Binay said.
(This would require sacrifice on the part of the private sector, but I believe that a lot of partners in the Tourism Congress are willing to help in any way they can amid this crisis).