Red Cross donates 25,000 face masks to Bureau of Customs

Philippine Red Cross officials flank Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon as the latter hands over a box of face masks on Monday, February 24, 2020. Photo: BOC

The Philippine Red Cross has donated 25,000 face masks to the government as added protection for front-liners against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement on Wednesday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it received the donation on Monday, February 24, 2020.

"[T]he personnel of agencies like the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, airports and seaports and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also interact daily with inbound travelers, some of whom may be carriers of the disease," Red Cross chairman and chief executive officer Senator Richard Gordon was quoted as saying in the statement.

"We should protect our front-liners and help prevent local transmission of COVID-19," he elaborated.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines remains at three.

On Tuesday night, 445 Filipinos who had been on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship arrived in the Philippines and were brought to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for a 14-day quarantine.

The Philippines on Wednesday banned travel to all parts of South Korea given the increase of reported cases in the country.

"We have to provide our front-liners with face masks and other protective gear. Our doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel come in close contact with people infected with the novel coronavirus and patients under investigation," said Gordon.

The masks were received by BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, along with Public Information and Assistance Division Chief Bienvenido Datuin Jr. and General Services Division Chief Raquel De Jesus.

"We did not expect to be included in the list of agencies that will be given face masks. But we are very, very grateful," said Guerrero. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News