Staff of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development pose for a photo with Philippine General Hospital officials after donating additional personal protective equipment to the hospital. Photo from US Embassy
MANILA, Philippines — The United States is donating P14.8 million ($300,000) worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and other COVID-19 treatment centers across the country.
In a statement on Monday, the US Embassy said this brings the overall US assistance to the Philippines for COVID-19 response efforts to nearly P981 million ($19.8 million).
The distribution of the PPEs was coursed through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to the Embassy.
“This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said.
US COVID-19 aid to the Philippines. Courtesy of US Embassy
“During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partners, and allies with the PPE they need to assist communities confronting the pandemic,” he added.
According to Kim, recipients of the donation were determined through an assessment of their needs based on infection rates, current PPE supply levels and projected future needs for the protective gear.
He said the US will continue to support Filipino frontline workers during the pandemic.
For his part, Dr. Robert Pope, director of DTRA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, said they are “proud to support brave Filipino medical workers” to ensure they are safe as they attend to COVID-19 patients.
“We value our longstanding partnerships in the Philippines. One day, we will look back on these events and know that our partnership helped enable a robust response that saved lives and prevented further contagion in the Philippines and the surrounding region,” he said.