Filipino boxing icon Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Jack Ma. (Photo from Jinkee Pacquiao’s Instagram)
MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines grapples to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Chinese billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma has pledged to donate 50,000 test kits to the country in partnership with Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s foundation.
“We’re excited to announce the Jack Ma Foundation, in partnership with Pacquiao Foundation is pledging 50,000 test kits to combat COVID-19 in the Philippines,” Pacquiao said in an Instagram post Tuesday.
“With everything that’s happening around the world today, there is no better time to unite and do whatever we can to help each other,” he added.
Earlier, the Department of Health said it only had 2,000 test kits. Those being developed by the University of the Philippines medical experts are still undergoing evaluation.
On Monday, the first batch of 2,000 test kits donated by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the China Mammoth Foundation has arrived.
The Philippines has so far recorded 8 deaths and 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Two people have recovered from the viral disease.
Globally, the virus has killed more than 6,500 people and infected at least 180,000 individuals.