Member Perspective - Special Section: COVID-19 Hero Stories From Around The Network (Asia Pacific)


WTC Metro Manila
Pamela D. Pascual, President and CEO, WTC Metro Manila

WTC Metro Manila (WTCMM) — a pioneer in world-class exhibition venues in the Philippines — was converted into a COVID-19 center on April 3 to help the government address the looming gap in hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the country. Private companies came forward to donate personal protective equipment, rubbing alcohol, hygiene kits, meals, beds, beddings, among others, to complete the facility’s infrastructure and meet the needs of the frontliners and patients. The medical team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) managed the medical and operational needs of the center, ensuring the safety and care of the patients. To date, WTCMM’s We Heal As One Center has accommodated and treated more than 1,600 patients.

Wtc Metro Manila

Photo caption: Ms. Pamela D. Pascual, WTCMM President and CEO with government officials for the We Heal As One Center partnership. From left to right: Mr. Vince Dizon, Deputy Chief Implementer of NTF-COVID-19 and Chief Testing Czar; Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense; Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Chief Implementer of NTF-COVID-19; and Undersecretary Emil Sadain of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Photo credit: WTC Metro Manila

WTC Pune
Prakash Mirpuri, Executive Vice President - Communications & Marketing, Panchshil Foundation (WTC Pune)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panchshil Foundation — the CSR arm of Panchshil Realty, one of India’s leading real estate developers and a member of WTC Pune — embarked on a multi-pronged initiative to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on daily-wage workers. The Foundation provided food hampers with basic essentials such as rice, dal, cooking oil, and eggs to those in need. Nitin Wankhade, Assistant Manager-Safety — who has been with Panchshil Realty for a decade — is the WTC Pune community hero as he led the initiatives from the frontlines. Over the past two months, Nitin oversaw and participated in the distribution of more than 35,000 food hampers to the impacted communities. Further, in partnership with a team from the 5th Battalion of the Elite National Disaster Response Force, Nitin also led and coordinated special community education drives to raise awareness about COVID-19 and the precautions vulnerable populations need to take at the community level.

Wtc Pune   Supporting Images

Photo caption: Nitin Wanhkade distributes food hampers and leads the community education drive with the Elite National Disaster Response Force team.

Photo credit: Panchshil Realty

WTC Taipei
Elina Lee, Executive Director of Planning and Finance Department, WTC Taipei

As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, Taiwan’s fight against the pandemic has drawn international attention and requests seeking exchange and collaboration. In response, Taiwan has been actively sharing lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak and working with communities worldwide.

In April, WTC Taipei worked with the National Cheng Kung University Hospital to host an online seminar for 9,000 doctors in India and share Taiwan’s epidemic prevention experience. Since then, over 20 online seminars have taken place with more than 15,000 medical professionals in attendance from various countries, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Peru, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

To help people from both public and private business sectors, WTC Taipei has worked with more than 2,000 companies and 21 hospitals, as well as diplomatic and economic organizations, to launch the “Taiwan Global Anti-COVID-19 Pavilion.” The Pavilion offers resources for epidemic prevention, and matches global demands for medical technology and devices with their corresponding suppliers.

Wtc Taipei Photo

Photo caption: Taiwan Global Anti-COVID-19 Pavilion.

Photo credit: Elina Lee