Philippines Property Award-winning firms prove to be dependable during the COVID-19 outbreak

Showcasing their love for their employees and for their country through various CSR initiatives

This past week, the Philippine government announced a 30-day lockdown in Metro Manila to control the spread of the virus, which prompted several award-winning real estate development firms to pledge their assistance to help the nation cope.

As the number of persons under investigation and confirmed cases continue to rise, several other cities throughout the country either declared a state of calamity or enforced their own quarantine measures.

The lockdown required the public to abide by the social distancing rule, which restricted public movement. Some cities have started to provide one quarantine pass for every household to buy essential items, such as food and medicine, which are the only establishments allowed to operate at this time.

All public utility vehicles were asked to stop operating as schools were forced to close and as businesses established work from home policies for their staff. To ease the burden of temporary unemployment, some cities have started donating relief goods, while the President has encouraged businesses to release the mandatory 13th-month pay.

Seeing hundreds, or even millions of citizens will struggle to financially keep themselves afloat during the lockdown, major real estate development firms have decided to step up and do their part to support the citizens. Some have even donated millions of pesos to ensure the nation has enough funds to supply COVID-19 equipment and kits.

Megaworld Corporation, a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group, Inc. and the regional winner of Best CBD Development (Asia) and Best Township Masterplan Design (Asia) categories at the 14th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, pledged to contribute one million litres of disinfectant alcohol to the local government, hospitals, and other frontline institutions.

They will also be waiving the rental charges of their retail partners in their commercial centres in the capital and the entire island of Luzon from 16 March to 12 April 2020. As for their tenants who are still required to operate during the outbreak, such as pharmacies, clinics, banks, and supermarkets, they will be provided in-store sanitation and disinfecting services.

Frontliners working in the military, healthcare, and other emergency fields will be given food and transport assistance.

SM Group, on the other hand, promised to donate PHP100 (USD1.9) million to ensure that over 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country have enough testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), alcohol, and other supplies.

They will also waive the rental fees of their tenants from 16 March to 14 April not only in the capital, but across the country. On 03 April, they have partnered with Uniqlo Philippines to contribute food packs to families in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Its founder late Henry Sy Sr and the entire Sy Family was named the Philippine Real Estate Personality of the Year at the 2019 Philippine Property Awards. The firm also won six categories and bagged 15 highly commended awards that night.

Ayala subsidiary Alveo Land, who won the title for four categories and took home four highly commended accolades at the 2019 Philippine Property Awards (PPA), allocated around PHP2.4 billion of their funds towards a COVID-19 response package.

The said package includes loan deferments, leave conversions, wages, and bonuses for their partner-employers’ extended workforce to ensure that they will still get paid during the lockdown. From 16 March to 14 April, tenants will benefit from a rent-free period.

On 15 April, the Ayala Group of Companies announced that they have completed the WTC: We Heal As One Center project in partnership with several other companies. The said project worth PHP46.4 million involved converting the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City into a temporary healthcare facility exclusively catering to COVID-19 patients.

A few days later, the employees of Ayala Land, Inc. revealed that they started a campaign named “the ALI Pays It Forward” where they pooled all their resources to support medical facilities and families affected by pandemic.

Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), under their philanthropic arm Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), will supply more PPEs and testing kits through their PHP100 million fund. They will waive rental charges for their tenants; donate noodles, snacks, coffee, and water bottles to the medical workers; and extend all loan payments.

RLC won the Best Mid End Condo Interior Design award and received a highly commended for the Best High End Condo Development (Cebu) category at the 2019 Philippine Property Awards (PPA).

These award-winning real estate development firms have proven that in times of need, the country can depend on them for help. They truly have embedded their Corporate Social Responsibility at the core of their businesses.