Gatchalian family donates medical supplies for COVID-19 operations
CALOOCAN CITY, April 27 (PIA) — The National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 received a donation of various medical supplies worth more than P30-million from the Gatchalian family on Sunday to augment the country’s efforts in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Secretary of National Defense and NTF Chair Delfin N. Lorenzana, together with Presidential Peace Adviser and NTF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, received from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Valenzuela City Representative Weslie Gatchalian the medical supplies transported by the Philippine Air Force from Fujian, China. Also witnessing the turnover were Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Felimon T. Santos, Jr. and Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force LTGen Allen T. Paredes.
The donation included 20,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and 500,000 surgical face masks, as well as 3,000 face shields, 3,000 goggles, 100,000 gloves, and 42,000 KN-95 face masks.
“This is just a small contribution to our front liners to make them feel na andito tayo para tumulong at hindi natin sila nakakalimutan,” Senator Gatchalian said. All the items, according to Senator Gatchalian, are medical-grade and meet the standards of the Department of Health.
“We will leave it to the OCD to decide (on the distribution) dahil meron silang database at inventory ng iba’t ibang mga institution,” Gatchalian said.
Lorenzana, on his part, noted that the regional offices of the OCD collect data from the hospitals and distribute the needed supplies to those who need them.
“I would like to thank Senator Win and Congressman Wes Gatchalian, and the whole Gatchalian family for this donation,” Lorenzana said. “Napakalaking bagay po nito para sa ating fight against COVID.”
According to him, the government continues to procure and distribute PPEs to hospitals and medical institutions
“We are procuring 1,000,000 PPEs, which the Philippine Air Force transports using the C130 aircrafts three times a week,” he said.
The Defense chief added that the government is procuring additional 3,000,000 PPEs to respond to the needs of the front liners all over the country.
The Secretary also noted that the current trend in the new COVID-19 cases shows progress in the country’s efforts to flatten the curve. While the current numbers appear to be positive, Secretary Lorenzana emphasized that there can still be changes in the trend.
“We are getting there… Maganda yung ating lockdown, kaya nga ako ay nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan – konting sakripisyo na lang po, at magugupo natin itong COVID,” he said. (PIA NCR)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1040164