GRATITUDE. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) expresses gratitude to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and his family for donating PPE sets and medical supplies in a turnover ceremony at the Villamor Airbase on Sunday (April 26, 2020). Aside from PPE sets, the Gatchalian family's donation consists of essential medical supplies such as surgical face masks, face shields, goggles, gloves, and KN-95 face masks. (Photo courtesy of DND Public Affairs Service)
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana thanked Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and his family for donating PHP30 million worth of medical supplies and personal protection equipment sets (PPEs) for front-liners working to contain 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,” he said in a statement sent to reporters late Sunday night.
The Gatchalian family's donation consists of 20,000 PPE sets, 500,000 surgical face masks, 3,000 face shields, 3,000 goggles, 100,000 gloves, and 42,000 KN-95 face masks.
“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),” Gatchalian said.
These items were turned over to Lorenzana, who is also chair of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, during a short ceremony at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City Sunday afternoon.
The medical supplies and PPE sets were picked-up at Fujian, China by an Air Force Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" cargo plane which landed at the military facility at 4 p.m.
Present during the turnover ceremony were 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)," Lorenzana 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,” he said.
Aside from this, Lorenzana said the government is procuring an additional 3 million PPE sets to respond to the needs of the front-liners all over the country. He also noted that the current trend in the new Covid-19 cases shows progress in the country’s efforts to flatten the curve.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines has reached 7,579 with 862 recoveries and 501deaths.
While the current figures appear to be positive, Lorenzana 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 beat Covid-19)," he added. (PNA)
