The United States recently donated P14.8 million ($300,000) worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital and other coronavirus treatment centers in the Philippines.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila said that the donation was made through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
It also noted that the latest donation brought the overall U.S. assistance to the Philippines for COVID-19 response efforts to nearly P981 million ($19.8 million).
“This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim in a statement on Monday, July 20.
“During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partners, and allies with the PPE they need to assist communities confronting the pandemic,” he added.
The donation’s recipients were determined by a needs assessment based on pandemic infection rates, current PPE supply levels, and projected future needs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Pope, director of DTRA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, said they are proud to support “brave Filipino medical workers to ensure they are safe and healthy while providing essential medical care to those affected by this deadly virus.”
“We value our longstanding partnerships in the Philippines. One day, we will look back on these events and know that our partnership helped enable a robust response that saved lives and prevented further contagion in the Philippines and the surrounding region,” he added.
As of writing, there are now 76,444 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,879 fatalities and 24,502 recoveries.
