ATI boosts health and safety initiatives vs COVID-19

August 11, 2020

Philippines’trade enabler Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) has further stepped up protocols to promote a safer port environment as its contribution to multisectoral efforts against COVID-19.

“The safety of our employees and stakeholders is our top priority,” ATI executive vice president William Khoury said, underscoring that the company has continuously strengthened its health and safety initiatives to keep cargoes flowing in the supply chain.

At the core of this is ATI’s intensified health monitoring, surveillance and response mechanisms following the strict guidelines set by local and international health experts.

Before entering port facilities, temperature and vital information are checked and collected. Polycarbonate dividers are installed in workstations, reception, and transactions areas, while automatic alcohol dispensers are accessible in all entry/exit points.

ATI’s office lobbies have also been reconfigured to enforce strict physical distancing, with belt stanchions, barriers and line dividers installed for proper queueing of transacting customers and guests. Additional safety technologies have likewise been installed across its premises such as HEPA air purifiers.

For greater awareness, ATI has tapped its own employees as safety ambassadors by wearing their company provided Keep Your Safe Distance shirts, masks, and face shields,serving as constant reminder to colleagues, stakeholders and the public on the importance of wearing PPEs at all times.

Back in March, the listed port operator made its online facilities more accessible to facilitate contactless digital transactions such as ePayment through partner banks, electronic gatepass system and real-time cargo monitoring through its proprietary WebTrack and MPort apps.

On top of these, ATI is actively supporting government’s efforts to combat the pandemic through partnerships and collaboration. Its cruise terminal in Manila South Harbor continues to serve as an additional quarantine facility for returning overseas Filipinos. In southern Luzon, Batangas Port is working hand-in-hand with port authorities and local government units to assist Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) for their safe return to their respective island provinces.