By JAMES A. LOYOLA Coca-Cola Philippines is reallocating P150 million from its advertising budget to support health workers fights COVID-19 while Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. takes steps to ensure availability of its hydration products and the safety of its employees. “We are deeply concerned about the growing impact of COVID-19 in the Philippines, especially in the most vulnerable parts of our communities. These are challenging times for all of us, and we are fully committed to doing everything we can to help,” said Coca-Cola Philippines President and General Manager Winn Everhart. In this light, Coca-Cola Philippines has decided that all commercial advertising of Coca-Cola and all our brands in the country will be put on hold, effective immediately. “All our committed advertising space and budgets will be redirected towards supporting COVID-19 relief and response efforts for the most affected communities,” said Everhart. “This decision to re-channel P150 million follows the efforts the firm had begun this week such as providing hydration needs for health workers and front liners every day,” said Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada. He added that, the firm has started delivering beverages to public and private hospitals and will continue as needed. Coca-Cola Philippines will also provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to health workers in partnership with TOWNS Foundation and UP Medical Foundation, deliver food packs to the most vulnerable families and communities, and support its distribution partners who serve small sari-sari-stores and carinderias, through expanded credit terms. “This is just the beginning and we will continue to go beyond good as we mobilize our resources to help in every way we can,” said Everhart. Meanwhile, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) said it stands “firm in our commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of our people, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.” Since PCPPI is a company engaged in the business of manufacturing and distribution of basic commodities — such as water, hydration drinks, and other beverages — it is tasked to continuously operate its manufacturing plants to be able to produce and deliver products to areas that would need them most. Thus, PCPPI implemented various flexible work arrangements. Foremost of this is our work-from-home arrangements made available to employees. “We closed some plant in select areas at the onset of the enhanced community quarantine as called upon us by the government, and we made use of a skeletal workforce to support only select line operations. This is still in keeping with our commitment to deliver high-quality products to our countrymen at this difficult time,” PCPPI said.