Duterte: Government has spent P14.1B on medical gear, supplies

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte released his 10th weekly report on the national government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic Monday evening.

The weekly report is part of the checks and balances measure under the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” that grants Duterte additional powers to address the health crisis.

In his 33-page report, the President said the government has spent P14.1 billion for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), test kits, and other medical supplies in efforts to tackle the virus.

According to him, the Department of Health (DOH) bought 6,062,019 PPE sets for P12.1 billion and an additional 65,330 PPE sets utilizing saving from its previous procurement.

Nine different types of PCR test kits have also been procured for P1.6 billion and 10 units of Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Machines have also been acquired through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management for P400 million.

As of May 28, Duterte said there are 1,912 Covid-19 referral and accepting hospitals nationwide, with 24 designated DOH COVID-referral hospitals and 50 other DOH accepting hospitals across the country.

There are 13,627 dedicated beds for Covid-19 with an average of 35.33 percent occupancy rate nationwide, the report stated.

To increase the country’s testing capacity, the Chief Executive noted that the health agency accredited six more Covid-19 testing laboratories, for a total of 43 active testing laboratories.

Eighty-one laboratories are currently being evaluated, with eight laboratories already at Stage 4 of the five0stage accreditation process, he furthered.

As of Monday, the Philippines recorded a total of 18,638 confirmed cases, with 3,878 recoveries and 960 fatalities.

Below is a copy of Duterte’s 10th report:

 

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)