Provincial News
U.S. donates COVID-19 relief supplies to PH SURIGAO CITY - The United States (U.S.) government donated nearly 1,300 new cots to support the Philippine government’s response to COVID-19.
“I am pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners. We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19,” said Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.
nearly P204 million ($4 million) in health Joining the ambassador to receive assistance to help address the COVID-19 the cots were Republic of the Philippines pandemic in Manila and around the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. country. Locsin, Jr. and Office of Civil Defense United States assistance supports Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad. several important efforts such as In partnership with the Philippine laboratory system preparedness; casegovernment, the United States also finding and event-based surveillance; expert response and donated more than 1,100 cots to the technical Office of Civil Defense to aid COVID-19 preparedness; risk communication; and infection prevention. patients. The United States also provided 150 cots to support patients and medical professionals and frontliners at Philippine General Hospital who are providing critical diagnosis, treatment and care. The cots were originally intended for the Balikatan 2020 joint military exercise.
These efforts complement the ongoing assistance from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Biological Threat Reduction Program.
Over the past 20 years, the United States has provided more than P29.5 billion ($582 million) in assistance to In addition to the donation of strengthen and develop the Philippine cots, the U.S is providing the Philippines health system. (PIA-Surigao del Norte) 36 | May 2-8, 2020
