PRC to get more COVID-19 testing machines, kits from China
Published Apr 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Mario Casayuran
Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), on Tuesday revealed that the PRC would be chartering a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane and a military-owned C-130 transport plane to get more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing machines, kits, and reagents from Changsa City in China.
Senator Richard Gordon (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“We are bringing in six more RNA extraction machines, 20 PCRs and thousands of testing kits, swabs and reagent for the additional molecular laboratories,” Gordon said in his Twitter account.
Gordon said this is the third flight that PRC would be chartering in response to the COVID-19 threat and the first time using C-130 through Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
“A pleasure to be working with these reliable and dedicated gentlemen,” Gordon stressed.
Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, likewise, revealed that they would also try to bring on board the C-130 a Filipina cancer patient who needs to undergo a unique targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment in Beijing, China. “Pray that we can make this possible for our kababayan,” he pointed out.
In a related development, Gordon also said that he has talked to Lorenzana for the mass blood donation of some 1,500 cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio city.
“In this time of crisis, this is what we need – teamwork and everybody carrying their load,” he stressed.
Gordon assured that there is still no blood shortage at PRC “but we need to fill up the well so that we can continue to provide blood services to those in need.”
“Very few people know how hard my volunteers and staff at the Philippine Red Cross work not only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but also in responding to those who were affected by the Taal volcano eruption, the earthquakes in Mindanao typhoons “Tisoy” and “Ursula”.
“With only one third of the total manpower present, the staff have stretched themselves beyond their limits in the service of humanity even if they are exposing themselves to risks and danger,” he said.
Senator Richard Gordon (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“We are bringing in six more RNA extraction machines, 20 PCRs and thousands of testing kits, swabs and reagent for the additional molecular laboratories,” Gordon said in his Twitter account.
Gordon said this is the third flight that PRC would be chartering in response to the COVID-19 threat and the first time using C-130 through Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
“A pleasure to be working with these reliable and dedicated gentlemen,” Gordon stressed.
Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, likewise, revealed that they would also try to bring on board the C-130 a Filipina cancer patient who needs to undergo a unique targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment in Beijing, China. “Pray that we can make this possible for our kababayan,” he pointed out.
In a related development, Gordon also said that he has talked to Lorenzana for the mass blood donation of some 1,500 cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio city.
“In this time of crisis, this is what we need – teamwork and everybody carrying their load,” he stressed.
Gordon assured that there is still no blood shortage at PRC “but we need to fill up the well so that we can continue to provide blood services to those in need.”
“Very few people know how hard my volunteers and staff at the Philippine Red Cross work not only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but also in responding to those who were affected by the Taal volcano eruption, the earthquakes in Mindanao typhoons “Tisoy” and “Ursula”.
“With only one third of the total manpower present, the staff have stretched themselves beyond their limits in the service of humanity even if they are exposing themselves to risks and danger,” he said.