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Bataan firm to supply PH with 5 million face masks by April: DTI chief

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The national government will receive around 5 million face masks by April from a supplier in Bataan province, the Philippines&#x27; trade chief said late Wednesday, as the country intensifies its efforts against the fast spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).&quot;We are also supplying DOH (Department of Health) and the public. By talking to the supplier based here in Bataan, we have made arrangements that they will supply the Philippines 2 million face masks for the rest of March, and another 3 million for April,&quot; DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a press briefing.Lopez said they will ask the company to increase the amount of face masks and allotment for the Philippines since &quot;these numbers are not enough to provide for Filipinos.&quot;Lopez said the DOH received 300,000 face masks last week, and will receive another 100,000 on Thursday.He said the reason why supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies are lacking in supply of face masks is that DOH workers and other frontliners were given priority.&quot;Kaya yung na-allocate sa mga drugstores medyo kaunti na lang po. So we really need more sources,&quot; Lopez said, adding the Philippines is waiting for a supply of around 2.5 million face masks from India.Meanwhile, various individuals and groups have donated face masks to the Philippines.Boxing icon and senator Manny Pacquiao donated at least 600,000 face masks to frontliners, while the family of former senator Manny Villar donated 200,000 face masks through the DOH.Beijing also promised to aid Manila with 100,000 face masks, while Chinese billionaire Jack Ma committed to send 50,000 to the Philippines.Other groups and agencies, like the Department of Science and Technology, said they will produce more than 500,000 face masks for the Philippines.As of Wednesday, the Philippines has recorded 202 COVID-19 cases, 17 of whom died.

MANILA - The national government will receive around 5 million face masks by April from a supplier in Bataan province, the Philippines' trade chief said late Wednesday, as the country intensifies its efforts against the fast spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

MANILA - The national government will receive around 5 million face masks by April from a supplier in Bataan province, the Philippines' trade chief said late Wednesday, as the country intensifies its efforts against the fast spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).