By Minka Klaudia Tiangco  Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire justified the health department’s purchase of “expensive” personal protective equipment (PPEs), saying that these were “more complete” than what were purchased by other agencies. In an online press briefing on Tuesday, Vergeire said each set had eight PPE types, including an N95 mask, coveralls, gloves, head cover, shoe covers, goggles, surgical mask, and surgical gown. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Ang set na prinocure po namin ay pinaka-kumpleto," she said. (The sets that we procured are the most complete.) “Hindi lang po isang klase ang nakapaloob sa P1,800, kung hindi walong piraso na iba-ibang PPEs na ginagamit ng ating health care workers." (The P1,800-set do not only have one type, but eight different types of PPEs that are used by our health care workers.) Vergeire also said each hospital facility requires a different PPE type, and not all PPE sets cost the same. “Meron po tayong iba’t ibang PPE depende sa risk setting. Meron pang-triage, meron pong pang-points of entry, meron pang-collection of specimen, for transport of patients, at panggamit sa pangangalaga ng suspected at confirmed patients," she explained. (We have different PPE types depending on the risk setting. We have a type for triage, for points of entry, for collection of specimens, for transport of patients, and for treating suspected and confirmed patients.) Lawmakers and Filipinos online questioned why the DOH’s newly purchased PPEs, that are set to be distributed to frontline health workers in April, amounted to P1,800 each when these can be bought for P400 to P1,000 in the market. Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced that they purchased almost one million PPE sets worth P1.8 billion for medical workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Vergeire said the PPE sets bought by the health department underwent the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management. The newly procured PPE sets will arrive in two batches and will go straight to the Office of Civil Defense, that will help distribute the PPEs to COVID-19 hospitals and to other regions, the health undersecretary said. About 200,000 PPE sets are expected to arrive between April 1 to 6, while the remaining 700,000 sets may arrive between April 6 to 24, she added.