P14.1B spent on PPEs, test kits, automated extraction machines -Duterte

The government has spent P14.1 billion for the procurement of protective gear, test kits, and medical equipment as part of the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Of this amount, P12.1 billion went to the purchase of 6,062,019 personal protective equipment (PPE) sets while P1.6 billion was used to buy nine different types of PCR test kits, according to President Rodrigo Duterte’s report to Congress submitted on Monday.

The President also disclosed that 10 units of automated nucleic acid extraction machines have been procured for P400 million.

Duterte said a total of 1,458,000 PPE sets or 23.79% have been delivered so far. An additional 65,330 PPE sets have also been acquired using savings from its previous procurement.

He said the delivery of the test kits is expected to be completed next month.

Duterte also reported that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has started the mass production of reusable face masks at the rate of 10,000 masks a week, with a goal to increase to 50,000 masks weekly by the end of June.

The project seeks to produce 500,000 face masks, half of which will be donated to frontline government workers while the rest will be contributed to the government’s inventory of masks.

The DOST’s Philippine Textile Research Institute said in March that the re-wearable face masks will be applied with textile water-repellent finishing technology developed by PTRI for added protection against viruses and bacteria that are usually spread through water droplets.—AOL, GMA News