MANILA, Philippines — Some 57,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test kits worth P400 million donated by Chinese billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma were turned over by the foundation of Senator Manny Pacquiao to the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday.
A press statement from the senator’s office said the test kits were donated by Ma to the Philippine government through the Manny Pacquiao Foundation.
Present during the turnover ceremony at the DOH were health officials led by Dr. Rongene Solante of the San Lazaro Hospital and representatives of the University of the Philipines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).
Pacquiao said the donated kits are the same test kits being used by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Aside from the test kits, Pacquiao said he also received from Ma some 500,000 face masks that will also be turned over to the DOH for proper distribution.
“I will be asking DOH to prioritize the poor in administering these test kits,” the senator said.
He also appealed to wealthy Filipinos to pitch in to raise additional funds for the purchase of more test kits and personal protective equipment for health workers.
In a separate statement, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it has expedited the release of the test kits from the Alibaba Foundation, which are intended to add to those now being used by the government in identifying patients who are positive for COVID-19.
57,600 COVID 19 test kits from Alibaba Foundation through the Manny Pacquiao Foundation were released today, March 27, from the BOC-NAIA which are intended to assist the Department of Health in the fight against COVID-19.
READ: https://t.co/FccPIAaP9Q pic.twitter.com/hc5YfQyU95
— Bureau of Customs PH (@CustomsPH) March 27, 2020
“Since March 9, 2020, to date, the BOC-NAIA has expedited the release of 1,616 importations and foreign donations of medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shipments,” the BOC said.
It added that the entire BOC, Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, Port of Cebu, Port of Clark, Port of Limay and other ports have been “facilitating expeditiously” all personal protective equipment (PPEs) as ordered by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
Several hospitals have reported a shortage of PPEs that are being used by health workers to avoid getting infected while treating patients who have or are suspected of having acquired the dreaded disease.
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