China donates P1 million, PPEs to PHL medical frontliners

China on Friday donated one million pesos in cash and personal protective equipment to Philippine hospitals as the country grapples with the continued spike in coronavirus infections.

Recipients hospitals include Makati Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital, a statement from the Chinese Embassy said.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met with the representatives of medical frontliners and turned over the Chinese donation, which he said is an "expression of appreciation to the dedication and contribution of the medical frontliners in the battle against COVID-19."

He also vowed to provide China's support and assistance "to the best of its ability" to the Philippines.

“We firmly believe that the dawn of victory will come at the earliest,” Huang said.

Huang expressed hoped that Filipino medical frontliners, burdened with the rising virus infections, particularly in Metro Manila, "could always stay safe and healthy as the last line of defense."

The Philippines on Friday recorded 153,660 cases, the highest in Southeast Asia, and 2,442 deaths.

President Rodrigo Duterte once again placed Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal under modified enhanced community quarantine from August 4 to August 18 following appeals from the health sector to enforce a stricter lockdown due to the rapid increase of coronavirus infections. —LDF, GMA News