Robredo's office steps up PPE distribution amid COVID-19 surge
More Metro Manila hospitals and local government units have received personal protective equipment (PPE) from Vice President Leni Robredo’s office amid the latest surge of the coronavirus cases.
According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), it has sent out 31,350 PPE sets and 2,520 reusable suits for COVID-19 frontliners since March 11 in the country’s capital region.
Various health institutions received other medical supplies, including 1,700 pieces of surgical masks, 8,500 pieces of gloves, 170 pieces of gowns, 850 pieces of head covers, 1,700 pieces of face shields, 44 gallons of disinfectants and 68 gallons of alcohol as of March 22.
On Monday, March 22, the Philippines logged its highest single-day tally of COVID-19 cases at 8,019 after a year in lockdown. The number of new cases had reached the 7,000 level for three days in a row from March 19 to 21.
Relying on private partnerships, the OVP has provided various forms of assistance to health workers and non-medical frontliners since the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. Apart from PPEs, it has also distributed food and care packages, as well as provided free shuttle services and dormitories.
In a Facebook post, Robredo recalled when she sought the help of local fashion designers last year as sourcing for PPE sets has been difficult due to the high global demand.
“A year later, we were able to provide thousands of locally produced PPEs which gave livelihood to many poor communities,” she said.
To date, the OVP and its partner sewers were able to produce 51,152 PPE sets. Of this number, 39,491 were already distributed to 1,122 health institutions.
“I have visited many of our sewing communities. And 100% of the time, sinasabi nila ‘Salamat, Ma’am, at nagpatahi kayo sa amin. Kung hindi ito dumating, marahil wala na kaming kinakain (Thank you, ma‘am, and you have it sewn by us. If not for this, perhaps we have nothing to eat),’” her post said.
Robredo’s office also allocated funds to purchase test kits for testing centers and laboratories in several provinces nationwide in its bid to boost the government’s testing capacity.