Duterte offers P20M to Filipinos who can develop a local respirator

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P20 million reward to any Filipino who will develop a local respirator that can “outlast” patients’ lives, Malacañang said Tuesday.

The President made the offer in light of the lack of available equipment due to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

“Nagbigay din po ang pabuya ang ating President, P20 million para sa kahit sinumang Filipino na makakabuo ng local respirator na ang sabi niya ay dapat naman could outlast the life of the patient. Ito po ay dahil may kakulangan talaga sa mga respirators,” presidential spokesperson Harry said Roque in an online press conference.

Ventilators, an apparatus attached to a machine which is used to help pump oxygen into the lungs of COVID-19 patients and other respiratory disease patients, may sometimes be referred to as respirators.

This is not to be confused with common respirators which are considered personal protective equipment (PPE) such as the N95 masks being used by frontliners and healthcare professionals so as not to contract the disease.

Both respirators and ventilator machines are in short supply globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, amid the highly infectious nature of the disease.

Earlier, hospitals have called on the government for help as they run out of medical equipment, including respirators, amid the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

As of Monday, there are 7,777 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 511 deaths and 932 recoveries.

EDV