By Genalyn Kabiling

The Department of Health (DOH) has purchased P1.8 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets for the country’s health workers battling the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the front lines.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the health department is waiting for the delivery of around 1 million PPE sets procured for the health front liners to enhance their protection from the disease.

“Pagdating noong ating PPE, um-order tayo ng mga 1.8 billion pesos worth of PPE. Mayroon pang natitirang mga 225 million (When it comes to PPE, we ordered P1.8 billion worth of PPE. We still have P225 million left),” Duque said over government radio last weekend.

“Itong perang ito ay para sa personal protective equipment na mga isang milyong PPE (The funds will be used for the acquisition of around one million personal protective equipment),” he added.

The bulk of the PPE will be distributed to health workers serving in government hospitals and similar facilities, Duque said.

“Matapos natin mabigyan ang ating mga health workers sa public facilities, ay puwede rin tayong umayuda sa mga private hospitals na humihingi din ng PPE (After we have given PPE to our health workers in public facilities, we can augment the supply of private hospitals requesting for PPE),” he said.

The government’s acquisition of PPE seeks to boost the supply of such protective gear for health workers amid the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the country. Duque said a PPE set, including headgear, goggles, N95 mask, gloves, apron, and gown, costs around P1,500.

Compensation for health workers

Duque said around P275 billion will be used for the government’s operations against the coronavirus under the Bayanihan law, which was recently signed by President Duterte. A portion of these funds will go to the compensation of health workers.

The new law gives the President more powers to address the coronavirus emergency, including allocate cash, funds, investments including unutilized or unreleased subsidies and transfers held by government agencies as well as reprogram, reallocate, and realign from savings on other items in the 2020 national budget.

“‘Yung P275 billion, ang bahagi nito mapupunta para sa mga health response to COVID-19 na kasama din ang mga ayuda para sa ating mga healthcare workers (The P275 billion will go to the health response to COVID-19 including compensation for our health care workers),” he said.

Under the law, Duque said the government will provide P100,000 compensation to public and private health workers who may get infected with coronavirus in line of duty. At least P1 million will be given to those who may die while fighting the coronavirus pandemic. This will have a retroactive application from February 1, 2020.

“At sa ibabaw ito ng PhilHealth na sasagutin naman ang kanilang pagpapa-ospital (On top of this, PhilHealth will shoulder their hospitalization),” he said.

As the cases of coronavirus infections passed the 1,000th mark, Malacañang recently assured the public that the government is “doing everything” to contain and stop the spread of the disease in the country.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said they expect more PPE and medical supplies, including those donated from various sources, to reinforce the operations against the coronavirus.

“The once inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that cost the lives of nine of our doctors and placed others in critical condition have been addressed, as donations of PPE sets (i.e., surgical masks, head gears, face shields, goggles, gloves, protective gowns, and foot covers) coming from many sources have poured in even as their local production is in full swing from our garments manufacturers and local fashion designers,” he said.

“Medical supplies, alcohol, soap, and other health items are coming in too from various donors, individuals, and privates entities. The Bayanihan spirit has caught fire and everyone is chipping in, in a united front against this unseen deadly enemy,” he added.