MANILA - San Miguel Corp. will use one of its facilities to produce disinfectant alcohol for donation to communities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the company's chief said on Monday.

SMC president and COO Ramon Ang said the company is seeking government clearance to produce 70 percent ethyl alcohol, which can be used for sanitizers and other medical purposes.

Ang said they already started producing the disinfectant alcohol in a Ginebra San Miguel facility over the weekend.

The alcohol is being used by company employees, but San Miguel needs government clearance to distribute it for public use for humanitarian reasons, SMC said.

“We have the means and the capability to produce this and make it available for free to LGUs and public hospitals,” Ang said.

San Miguel is looking to donate the alcohol in bulk, in 20-liter containers and 1,000-liter tanks, he said.

The company said it is also donating to LGUs its own brand of disinfectant powder used in hog farms and other facilities.