More than 50,000 COVID-19 test kits from the collaboration of Senator Manny Pacquiao and Alibaba founder Jack Ma have arrived in the Philippines.
Senator Pacquiao who is currently on self-quarantine said he is aware of the lack of test kits in the country for frontliners and the less privileged.
“Mga kababayan ko, finally dumating na po yung mga testing kits more than 57,000. Laking pasalamat ko sa Panginoon at may ginamit Siya na kaibigan kong si Jack Ma para tumulong sa ating bansa. Sa mga kababayan ko maraming salamat sa pagtitiwala sa amin sa gobyerno (My countrymen, the more than 57,000 testing kits have arrived. I thank God that he used my friend Jack Ma to help our country. To our countrymen, I thank you for trusting the government),” Pacquiao said.
The testing kits donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma cost Php 400 million and are now with the Department of Health (DOH). The test kits are similar with those used by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC in other countries.
He also donated 500,000 face masks for Filipinos, and 70,000 of which have been handed to government agencies.
Pacquiao said the donation to be used by frontliners have undergone disinfection procedures prior to their delivery in the country.
“God is in control, dont worry about anything, thank you so much to all your support sa aming lahat (to all of us), gagawin namin ang lahat para sa inyo (we will do everything for you),” he said.
Pacquiao has also encouraged the public to do their part in fighting the virus by staying home and by being updated on what to do amid COVID-19 crisis. – Report from Eunice Samonte
