US donates ₱10-M PPE sets, medical supplies to PH hospitals
At least 10 hospitals around the country will benefit from the P10 million ($203,000) worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies donated by the United States as part of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) assistance to the Philippines.
Members of the United States Army, Marines, and Air Force, working with its counterparts in the Philippine Coast Guard, Army, and Air
Force, led the delivery of the PPE sets and medical supplies.
This joint operation “builds on decades of bilateral military cooperation in counterterrorism, humanitarian relief, maritime security, and many other fields,” a statement from the US embassy in Manila said on Tuesday.
The US embassy in Manila said the latest assistance will provide medical clinics from Luzon to Mindanao with much-needed PPE sets and other essential equipment to support frontline workers battling COVID-19.
This new donation brings the total US government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to more than P780 million (nearly $15.5 million).
Lt. General Ramiro Manuel Rey, AFP Northern Luzon commander, thanked the US for the donation, saying it will greatly benefit the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Bataan and Talon General Hospital in Tarlac City for a better COVID-19 response.
“Indeed, there is strength in unity… These items will greatly. With the world in unison, we truly will heal as one,” he said.
The medical equipment will be distributed to fourteen medical clinics, hospitals, and local Departments of Health in Palawan, Isabela, Tarlac, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Sulu, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan over the period of one month.
The supplies include disposable gloves, masks, medical clothing, various types of face protection, and tools such as infrared thermometers.
“With this effort, we are trying to do our part to provide the heroes of this fight, the medical professionals, with the necessary tools that they need to protect their fellow workers and citizens. Times like these show the strength of our friendship, partnership, and alliance as we work together to combat this virus,” said Captain Tim Johnson, Team Leader, Civil-Military Support Element Philippines.
Medical supplies from Korea Meanwhile, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the Philippine Navy (PN)'s first missile-frigate, is carrying on its way home medical supplies donated by the South Korean government and the companies that built and equipped the ship.
In an interview Tuesday, PN public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said the donation from the South Korean government consists of 35,000 COVID-19 test kits; 20,000 face masks, and 2,000 units of hand sanitizers.
The ship and the medical supplies donation, expected to arrive this weekend, will augment the Philippines' capacity in battling the COVID-19.
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the shipyard that constructed the BRP Jose Rizal, also gave 180 bottles of environmental disinfectants; 300 packs of disinfectant wipes; and 1,080 pieces of face shields.
Hanwha Systems also provided 492 packs of Vitamin C tablets, with each pack containing 180 pieces.
BRP Jose Rizal departed from the HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, Monday afternoon.
The missile frigate is expected to arrive in Subic Anchorage Area, Zambales on May 23 where its crew will first undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine prior to the ship’s technical inspection and low-key acceptance ceremony.
With the arrival of the BRP Jose
Rizal, the PN will have its first-ever multi-mission frigate capable of conducting anti-air warfare, antisurface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.
With a maximum designed speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles, the frigate has successfully undergone sea trials and sea acceptance tests.
“The Philippine Navy, through its strategic sail plan, has identified this 2020 as its banner year for being a strong and credible Navy manifested through the arrival of its brand new and first ever multimission capable warship that, truly, our maritime nation can be proud of,” Roxas said.
She said the frigate has successfully undergone sea trials and sea acceptance test prior to its sail to the Philippines. It has a maximum designed speed of 25 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles.
The frigate's sister ship, which will be christened BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) upon its commissioning, is expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
The two frigates were built by HHI for P18 billion based on an agreement between the Philippines and South Korea in October, 2016.
BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna were launched at the HHI shipyard in May, and November, 2019, respectively.
The lead ship of its class, BRP Jose Rizal was supposed to be delivered on the third or fourth week of April this year but it was delayed due to travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. (With reports from Martin A. Sadongdong and PNA)