Winners of Myanmar Property Awards vow to keep all hands on deck amid the outbreak
Knowing that they can help control the infection rates through donations and safety protocols
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started drastically spreading across the world, Myanmar was one of the least affected countries. So far, the country has managed to keep the number of infections low, having only 180 positive cases and six casualties.
The outbreak first reached Myanmar on 23 March, with both patients revealing that they have travelled to the US and to the UK, respectively, in the past couple of weeks. In response, President Win Myint formed the Committee for Corona Virus Disease 19 on 31 March, which is now led by First Vice President Myint Swe and is made up of members from several union ministries.
Since then, Myanmar Times reported that the committee has imposed a curfew for several states and regions, prohibited public gatherings, enforced people to wear masks or face charges, ordered the closure of all preschools and nurseries across the country, banned entrance to popular pagodas and allocated billions of funds for the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP).
In the midst of all these mandates, several private businesses and institutions offered their resources to help the government combat the virus. Among those who volunteered are the winning developers of the PropertyGuru Myanmar Property Awards.
New Starlight Construction Co., Ltd., the reigning Best Developer winner who also won three other accolades at the 5th PropertyGuru Myanmar Property Awards 2019, has donated MMK670 million (USD478,023) worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to medical frontliners, including 10,000 face masks and 600 suits. The developer also started a fundraiser where they were able to collect MMK2.9 million, which will be handed over to the Department of Health in Mandalay and will be used to provide more PPEs, test kits and ventilators.
Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings has donated sacks of food and other necessities to communities in need, as well as contributed PPEs, hand sanitisers and face masks to several medical facilities in the country.
U Win Aung, chairman at Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings, was the recipient of the Myanmar Real Estate Personality of the Year award at the PropertyGuru Myanmar Property Awards 2019.
In a bid to help the nation curb the spread of the virus, the hotels and resort developments of Nay Brothers Group of Companies across the country have been following the health and safety protocols set by the local government. They regularly disinfect all public areas, thoroughly clean all rooms after each guest checkout, screen the temperature of all individuals coming into the building, provide antibacterial soaps in their restroom facilities, place hand sanitizers in common areas and enforce all staff to wear masks and gloves.
The group nabbed the Best Resort Development title, as well as one other highly commended trophy at the PropertyGuru Myanmar Property Awards 2019.
The real estate industry is also a victim of circumstance, seeing as all their projects were put at a standstill because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, they were more than willing to share their resources for the good of the country.
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