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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

P14.1-B PPE sets, test kits, med equipment; more SAP for 2M families

Philippines

P14.1-B PPE sets, test kits, med equipment; more SAP for 2M families

By manilabulletin_admin

PUNCHLINE By FRED M. LOBO

Fred M. Lobo

Fred M. Lobo President Duterte has reported a P14.1-billion expenditure for the purchase of testing kits, additional personal protective gear and medical equipment. Capacity to contain the coronavirus outbreak enhanced, he assured.

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Duterte, in a report to Congress, said that the Department of Health (DOH) bought 6,062,019 personal protectiveequipment (PPE) sets for P12.1 billion while an additional 65,330 PPE sets have been purchased from previous savings A total of 1.45 M PPE sets or 23.79 percent have already been delivered, he said.

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The President also said the government bought nine different types of PCR test kits for P1.6 billion. Testing kits expected to be delivered next month, he added.

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He also said 10 units of automated nucleic acid extraction machines have also been procured through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for P400 million. More facilities and resources for the health sector and frontliners, he said.

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Duterte said 98 percent of the intended beneficiaries of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) first tranche have received cash aid. Some 17.5 million families have been served by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, amounting to P99.34 billion, he cited.

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The President said 4.22 million of the beneficiaries were members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 13.29 million are non-4Ps members, and 62,028 are drivers of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) and public utility vehicles (PUVs) . Compliance of local government units (LGUs) in the distribution of cash aid to low-income families monitored by the DILG, he said.

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Meanwhile, LGUs nationwide have submitted to the DILG lists of eligible but wait listed additional household beneficiaries totalingsome 1,984,787 families. Expect the DSWD’s electronic distribution of the subsidy’s second tranche, he added.

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Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno expressed support for bills that will shield banks from collapse and also boost market confidence. Beneficial pro-recovery measures, please, he urged.

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“BSP supports the FIST and GUIDE bills. We were actively engaged in their formulation.” “I also support the CREATE bill or the improved version of CITIRA (Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act)” he added.

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After the pandemic and lockdown, let’s have measures with “significant financial stability implications,” Diokno said. Yes to stimulus measures, recovery, and stability.

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