FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has acknowledged China’s donation of medical supplies and Covid-19 test kits during a telephone conversation on Sunday with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The exchange was released and appeared in Twitter on Monday.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said 2,000 coronavirus test kits from China has arrived in Manila to help the country address the spread of the deadly disease.
“The high-tech fast test kits, developed by China BGI Group, have a capability to issue results in three hours,” an embassy statement said. More test kits and other medical supplies are expected to arrive in the coming days, the statement added.
“The kits have been widely used in China’s battle against the epidemic and proven to be quite effective,” the statement said.
The test kits had been exported to more than 50 countries, including Japan, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Peru and United Arab Emirates.
The Chinese envoy assured they will actively coordinate the dispatch of medical experts and equipment with authorities. “China is willing to do its utmost to help the Philippines fight against Covid-19,” Yi was quoted as telling Locsin.
A netizen on Monday asked Locsin on Twitter if the Chinese shipment could be delivered directly from the Customs Manila Port to the hospitals needing them. “Frontline people are running out of number because some were quarantined, some were sick,” the netizen remarked.
Locsin replied that he would inform President Duterte about this. “I will ask in today’s Palace conference at 2 pm.”
Customs red tape
At the same time, aware of complaints of red tape in the Bureau of Customs, Locsin said that, “Now is not the time to be bitchy. Arrangements for PPEs [personal protective equipment] and other equipment in large quantities on the way.”
Earlier, it was reported that the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) had asked for donations of masks (both surgical and N95), 70-percent alcohol, face shields and surgical gowns for health workers.
Locsin tweeted Sunday: “PGH and other frontline medical personnel are looking for PPEs. They are in Customs warehouse, tons of them. Go get them there. PGH is an arm of government and entitled to take them,” he said in his official Twitter account.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines said on Friday that it has donated protective equipment for Filipino health workers. “WHO handed more than 2,000 kilos of personal protective equipment sets to @DOHgovph today,” the WHO Philippines said on Twitter.
“The PPE sets, composed of gowns, gloves, masks, goggles, and alcohol-based hand rubs, will support health workers in the clinical management for 200 severe cases.
Locsin, meanwhile, said he had asked ambassadors “for tens of thousands” of test kits for the novel coronavirus.
“Only a few. We started with 2,000 test kits. And I asked [ambassadors] for tens of thousands—private or government-to-government—same problem China warned me about. Without Customs clearance all impounded, yet, they are very perishable items. Also Health OK and worse, only four authorized labs,” he said on Twitter.
By way of a reminder to the controversial bureau, Locsin said he had “given up on the agency, which refused to release a donations of rice from China last year.”
“I’d give up on Customs where China’s mammoth rice donation just rotted. Could’ve gone to the poor if given to religious charitable institutions.
A wide circulation daily said the shipment of 6,986 containers ‘overstaying’ in various ports in the country in as recent as 30 days to more than 25 years, thus, should be disposed of in accordance with the law, the Commission on Audit has disclosed.
Meanwhile, BOC denied allegations it is holding or delaying the release of essential medical supplies and equipment in its warehouses.
In a statement, BOC said the processing of shipments containing medical supplies and relief goods is being fast-tracked at this time.
The BOC has also activated its Assistance Desk to expedite the clearance and immediate release of said shipments.
“The BOC enjoins its stakeholders/importers to provide detailed advance information of importations of emergency medical supplies so that they can be expeditiously processed,” it said.
The bureau also reminded importers to secure the needed importation permits and clearances required by regulatory agencies prior to importation.
The statement was issued by BOC to counter allegations on social media that Personal Protective equipment (PPEs) were being unduly held in customs warehouses.
With Cai U. Ordinario
Image credits: AP/Manman Dejeto