By Martin Sadongdong  The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has facilitated the distribution of the first batch of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets that were procured by the national government to fight the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). OCD Administrator Ricardo Jalad said around 12,000 PPE sets have been delivered to six COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila as of Thursday. The Department of Health (DOH) announced earlier that the national government bought one million PPE suits worth P1.8 billion to equip the local healthcare workers and other frontliners. The PPE sets were procured from China, Jalad said. He said about 2,780 PPE sets were delivered to San Lazaro Hospital while 2,000 sets were brought to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila. Meanwhile, 2,800 sets were delivered to the Lung Center of the Philippines, 1,100 sets were sent to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center and 770 sets were taken to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City. Lastly, 2,590 sets were turned over to the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan City. "Each PPE set has goggles, coverall suits, head cover, gloves, shoe cover, surgical mask, and a surgical gown," Jalad said. The OCD official said the first batch of the PPE sets arrived last March 31 at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. The DOH said the remaining PPE sets are expected to arrive between April 6 to 24. Jalad said the PPE sets will be brought to the OCD at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City as the agency was tasked by President Duterte to lead in its distribution to various hospitals.