San Miguel rolls out 'stores on wheels' during Luzon quarantine

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has expanded its Manukang Bayan on Wheels program to provide more food trucks and cover more areas in Metro Manila while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in effect.

In a statement, SMC said it expanded the program to provide fresh chicken and other refrigerated meats sold mainly in wet markets, groceries, and supermarkets.

"We thought of expanding our Manukang Bayan on Wheels to somehow lessen the time people spend lining up at stores to buy chicken... We understand that these are not normal times and people put themselves at risk when they go out to get necessary supplies, so wherever possible, we are bringing the supplies directly to them," said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramong Ang.

"Also, doing this will allay fears of food supply shortage. As I’ve said before, there is no reason to panic as we have enough food supplies to last way beyond the quarantine," he pointed out.

Reefer vans of the company selling poultry and other refrigerated meats are currently located in the following areas:

• Katipunan, QC (Petron La Vista Katipunan corner Mangyan Road);
• Commonwealth (Petron Commonwealth Avenue corner Atherton St, Fairview, QC); Litex (Petron Litex Road, Violago Parkwood, Payatas);
• JP Rizal Marikina (Petron JP Rizal corner Spain St., Concepcion Uno); Santolan, Pasig (Petron Dona Aurora Village, Marcos Highway, Santolan, Pasig City);
• Boni Serrano (Petron Katipunan Avenue corner Boni Serrano, QC); and
• C5 Diego Silang (Petron C5 Diego Silang, Ususan , Taguig City).

"We are looking to expand the coverage of these rolling stores in more locations in the coming days as long as there is a need. We will also make available more food products as we expand distribution channels to online retailers, for those who cannot go out of their homes to purchase food," said Ang.

The San Miguel Group earlier said its food business, which carries brands such as Magnolia, Monterey, and Purefoods, would operate 24/7 during the ECQ.
 

Last Wednesday, the group said its food donations have already amounted to P181 million. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News