Israel aids National Defense’s first responders
Donations for PPE and medical equipment will help military and police frontliners safe as they fulfill their duty the country’s fight against COVID-19
The State of Israel, headed by Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Rafael Harpaz, turned over medical equipment to the country’s Department of National Defense’s first responders as an aid in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Present at the ceremony held 2 June at the Villamor Airbase was Secretary of National Defense Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana.
Some 60,000 surgical masks, 6,000 N95 filtered face masks, 9,000 gowns, 3,000 face shields, 100,000 gloves and 100 non-contact thermometers were donated. The second batch of personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes surgical masks, N95 filtered face masks, gowns, shields, gloves and non-contact thermometers, was then delivered by the Embassy to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help its frontliners combat the deadly virus.
In the ceremonial turnover which took place at the NHQ-PNP Building on 10 June, Ambassador Harpaz praised the outstanding efforts of the PNP in fighting against coronavirus.
“I see them every day standing along the roads of Manila to ensure everyone’s safety and to make sure that social distancing is observed,” Ambassador Harpaz said.
In response, PNP Chief PGEN. Archie Francisco Gamboa said, “We would like to thank the State of Israel for their generosity and making today’s turnover of personal protective equipment possible. Supplementing the vital needs of the organization as we fight the unseen enemy, this turnover will be of great help to our police frontliners. All these donated PPE will certainly go a long way in enhancing our capability in protecting our police force while battling COVID-19.”
Israel’s bilateral relations with the Philippines cover many areas such as development assistance, agriculture, health, innovation and even sharing of military technologies and counterterrorism strategies.