MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday announced that it has received its share from the PHP200-million worth of essential medical equipment and supplies donated for front-liners engaged in containing the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
These donated items arrived at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City last March 21 and 28 via Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo planes.
AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the donation was made possible through the benevolence of a local Filipino-Chinese community, a private company, and a private individual who all requested anonymity.
The donated equipment and supplies consist of two Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System machines; four Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines; 30,000 RT-PCR diagnostic kits; 25,010 medical protective suits; 292,300 face masks; 60,000 medical gloves; 5,064 medical goggles; 5,000 face shields; and 1,000 pairs of medical protective shoe covers, all of which were procured from Sansure Biotech, according to the donors.
The Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System machine and the PCR machine were later brought to the V. Luna General Hospital for installation.
All PCR machines and diagnostic kits have been physically inspected and assessed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and are declared fully compliant with the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).
All testing kits are the same as those previously donated by the Chinese government and are, after the conduct of a parallel test, at par with the ones provided by the WHO.
Meanwhile, the donated personal protective equipment (PPE) have all been found to be fully compliant with the technical requirement of the (EU)2016/425 directive and standard for PPE suits.
“The AFP, along with other beneficiaries like Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority, Bureau of Immigration, public and private hospitals, and local government units, express its heartfelt gratitude to these local private donors and nameless individuals who, out of sincere desire to help the country’s imperiled front-liners, contributed to the battle against Covid-19,” AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said.
He added that these donations show that AFP personnel are not alone during this time of great need for critically essential equipment and medical supplies.
“For this, we salute our gracious donors who heeded the call for humanity and patriotism. Their example which is worthy of emulation would surely inspire our men and women on the ground knowing that as they perform their checkpoint duties, some people like these donors are looking after their welfare,” Santos said.