MANILA, Philippines—The Australian government has donated P57 million worth of medical supplies and personal protective equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to boost the AFP’s COVID-19 response.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP chief Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. and AFP Health Service Command Chief Col. Edgar Cardinoza received the donations in a ceremony at Pier 15 in South Harbor on Tuesday (Sept. 28), the AFP said.
The supplies, which included high flow oxygen machines, stretchers, defibrillators, disinfection kits, test kits, medical grade face masks, will be handed over to the AFP’s main hospital, V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.
“The Australian government has expanded the coverage of its Defense Cooperation Program to include the pandemic needs of Filipino soldiers; a gesture that conveys the message that we are not alone in this fight,” Lorenzana was quoted as saying.
“Certainly, these donations will ramp up the day-to-day clinical management and quality of care and service which AFP’s medical arm is expected to provide,” he added.
The donation is the third tranche from the Australian government made under the Australia-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program.