PHOENIX Super LPG team owner Dennis Uy has continued to be a major player in the fight against COVID-19, with his donations and lending of two passenger vessels as quarantine ships.
Through his logistics company 2GO Group Inc., Uy allowed the use of MV St. Anthony de Padua and MV St. Pope John Paul II - both docked at the Manila South Harbor - as quarantine vessels for free.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade had earlier said that the use of the vessels would cost the government P35 million. But Uy said they had no plans of accepting the pay.
"As chairman of 2GO, I have conferred with other shareholders and have given explicit instructions to waive the P35-million expected payment from the government and, if necessary, make good the said amount of my own funds to cover for the expected expenses to operate the ships," said Uy in a statement.
"To set the record straight, the actual cost to operate the two vessels as quarantine facilities is at P260 million. But this was intended to be a donation. Even if the government offers to pay P35 million, we in 2GO, in good conscience, we have no intentions of accepting their offer," Uy also said.
Meanwhile, some of Uy's players at the Phoenix Fuel Masters team have had their own effort to extend a helping hand, especially to the frontliners in the battle against coronavirus.
Coach Louie Alas and his family had their shares, too.(SB)
