Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana thanked Senator Win Gatchalian and his family for donating some P30 million worth of medical supplies and personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontliners working to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“I would like to thank Senator Win and Congressman Wes Gatchalian, and the whole Gatchalian family for this donation,” Lorenzana said in a statement.
The Gatchalian family donated 20,000 PPE sets, 500,000 surgical face masks, 3,000 face shields, 3,000 goggles, 100,000 gloves, and 42,000 KN95 face masks.
“This is just a small contribution to our front-liners to make them feel that we are here to help and that they are not forgotten.”
“This is just a small contribution to our front-liners to make them feel na andito tayo para tumulong at hindi natin sila nakakalimutan (that we are here to help and that they are not forgotten),” Senator Gatchalian said.
These items were turned over to the defense chief, who is also chair of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, during a short ceremony at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
The medical supplies and PPE sets were picked-up in Fujian, China by a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo plane.
Present during the turnover ceremony were Senator Gatchalian, Lorenzana, and Valenzuela 1st District Rep. Wes Gatchalian.
“Napakalaking bagay po nito para sa ating fight against COVID (This donation is a big help in our fight against COVID),” the defense head said.
He added that the government is constantly procuring and distributing PPE sets to hospitals and medical institutions in the country.
“We are procuring 1 million PPE, which the Philippine Air Force transports using the C-130 aircraft three times a week.”
“We are procuring 1 million PPE, which the Philippine Air Force transports using the C-130 aircraft three times a week,” Lorenzana added.
Lorenza also said that the government is procuring an additional 3 million PPE sets to respond to the needs of the frontliners all over the country. Lorenzana also noted that the current trend in the new COVID-19 cases shows that there is progress in the country’s efforts to flatten the curve.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached more than 7,777 with more than 932 recoveries and 511 deaths.
While the current figures appear to be positive, he said that there can still be changes in the trend.
“We are getting there, maganda yung ating lockdown, kaya nga ako ay nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan — konting sakripisyo na lang po, at magugupo natin itong (COVID-19) (Our lockdown is working, and this is why I am calling to our countrymen to please bear a little longer, just a little more sacrifice and we will defeat COVID-19),” Lorenzana concluded.