The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will once again turn over protective items such as surgical face masks donated by Chinese contractors to hospitals and other service frontliners.
About 18,000 pieces of surgical face masks, 1,000 pieces of N95 masks, and 90 pieces personal protective equipment (PPEs) were received recently by the DPWH from two (2) Chinese construction groups as donation to help in the Philippine government’s effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Sino Road and Bridges Group Co. Ltd. which is the contractor of the BGC to Ortigas Center Road Link Project, through its General Manager Li Hui, donated 6,000 pieces of face masks and 40 pieces of PPEs.
On the other hand, China Road and Bridge Corporation General Manager Ren Xiaopeng handed over12,000 pieces of surgical face masks, 1,000 pieces of N95 masks, and 50 pieces PPEs.
China Road and Bridge Corporation is the contractor for the construction of the Binondo-Intramuros bridge in Manila, and the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge linking the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong under the implementation of DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster 1.
“All skilled workers will be wearing the donated personal protective equipment to prevent getting direct exposure to Lung Center patients and hospital environment.”
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar instructed Undersecretary Emil Sadain to turn-over these donations to the following hospitals and DPWH service frontliners dealing in the campaign against COVID-19: Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Veterans Memorial Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and Fabella Hospital.
Meanwhile, the DPWH, acting on the request of the Lung Center of the Philippines, will facilitate the installation of electrical / cable wiring of CCTV and patient monitors in the new hospital wards.
Villar said that all skilled workers will be wearing the donated personal protective equipment to prevent direct exposure from patients and the hospital environment.
Living up the spirit of “Bayanihan to Heal as One,” North Star Construction president Al Tengco has volunteered to DPWH 30 workers to handle the job at the Lung Center anytime once all sensitive preparation including disinfection are completed by the hospital management.
Villar acknowledged the personal support given by the various construction industry partners of the Department in respond to COVID-19 pandemic.