PH ship to arrive in China for PPE pick up April 26

PPE PICK-UP MISSION. Navy troops hold a send-off ceremony for the BRP Bacolod City (LS-550) and its crew at the Captain Salvo Pier, Sangley Point, Cavite on Tuesday (April 21, 2020). The ship is expected to arrive in Xiamen, China on Sunday (April 26, 2020) to pick up over 23,000 boxes containing personal protective equipment (PPE) sets procured by the Philippine government. (Photo courtesy of Naval Public Affairs Office via PNA)

MANILA – Philippine Navy (PN) logistics support vessel, BRP Bacolod City (LS-550), which was deployed to pick up personal protective equipment (PPE) at Zhangzhou Port, Xiamen, China, is expected to arrive at its destination on Sunday.

“They are now in (the) Taiwan area. (They) are expected to arrive in (China) by April 26,” PN public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said in a message on Friday.

Upon arrival in China, BRP Bacolod City and its crew are expected to stay for five to six days to complete the loading of 23,385 boxes of PPE sets.

“They are expected to the loading (within) five to six days, depending on their loading speed,” Roxas said.

Once loading is completed, the ship will then head home, she added.

On Tuesday, the PN deployed the BRP Bacolod City to pick up the PPEs at Zhangzhou Port, Xiamen, China.

The ship is commanded by Commander Rogelio Lachina and deployed there in response to Presidential Peace Adviser and National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Carlito Galvez Jr.’s call for the services of the PN in picking up and delivering to the country the remaining sets of PPEs that the Department of Budget and Management procured in China last month.

Aboard the ship are 33 container vans courtesy of the Pacific Roadlink Logistics, Inc. (PRLI) which is based in Angat, Bulacan.

Roxas said these containers vans will serve as the storage room of the PPEs.