The Filipino fast food chain Binalot has been operating despite the enhanced community quarantine. Operations Manager Judee Morente says they have been sending and will continuously send free meal packages to hospitals and medical facilities in Metro Manila for health care workers serving as frontliners in the war against COVID-19. “For these modern-day heroes, Binalot can do no less,” she explains as they stay true to their core values.
Binalot Fiesta Foods has always had a heart for corporate social initiatives. Since it put in place its Dahon Program in 2006, Binalot has always been concerned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), particularly SDG 1 which aims for No Poverty and SDG 2 which targets Zero Hunger. Binalot’s Dahon Program has adopted a community in Nagcarlan, Laguna to supply its banana leaves with which to wrap its products for serving and recently even trained them on doable livelihood projects like the production of salted eggs, another Binalot staple food.
Cristina Martinez, Binalot Marketing Manager adds that in times of crisis where ready-to-eat meals are needed, Binalot has always been ready to heed the nation’s call. “This is not the first time Binalot has done this. When super typhoon Ondoy struck in September 2009 and many distressed areas were isolated and devastated by floodwaters, Binalot was able to come up with relief meals delivered to those in need. Then in many monsoon floods that followed, Binalot was always ready to lend a helping hand.
Binalot realizes that the doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners are the ones who need support the most. “These modern-day heroes work tirelessly to care for and heal those infected or might be infected with the COVID virus,” Martinez said.
Morente reveals that for emergency situations like this, Binalot has come up with special ready-to-eat meal packages that are portable and easy to handle and deliver, making them ideal for relief operations. And being environment-friendly with its biodegradable banana leaf packaging, it is cleaner and easier to dispose of afterwards.
She adds that Binalot has chosen five strategic outlets out of its 34 outlets in its network chain to remain open to service the needs of this endeavor. “These are Binalot Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Binalot McKinley in BGC Taguig City, Binalot Hanston in Ortigas Pasig City, Binalot RCBC in Makati City and Binalot Amaia in Sun Valley Paranaque City. We have maintained a skeletal workforce that churn out hundreds of Binalot meals per day to be delivered to hospitals. We make sure our personnel practice proper hygiene, wear protective gear such as masks and gloves and practice social distancing. Our primary concern is the safety and health of both our customers and our staff.”
Binalot has partnered with various kind-hearted institutions and individuals who sponsor food packages for the frontliners. “Binalot prepares the meals, packs them then distributes the ready-to-eat meals to various Metro Manila hospitals chosen by the sponsors. We extend our gratitude to organizations and individuals like the Lucio Tan Foundation, PMFTC, Auto88, Senate President Tito Sotto and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines who have all donated food packages. But we know that this crisis will not end very soon, so we hope that we can get more sponsors to donate for our frontliners in the coming days,” says Martinez.
To donate please call Vida Malapajo at 09328761352
