THE Office of Civil Defense on Tuesday denounced information spreading on social media that government-procured and donated personal protective equipment (PPE) against COVID-19 are being sold.
OCD administrator Ricardo Jalad assured that the PPE, including face masks, protective coverall suits, and goggles, go straight to health institutions and other intended beneficiaries.
The OCD is part of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases which is addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. It is leading the distribution of medical supplies that have been procured or donated.
Jalad said there have been misleading posts over the past days, including a picture PPE being unloaded from a military aircraft. The picture was uploaded by a netizen who said the government-owned PPE sets are for sale.
“The OCD condemns the said act as well as the other disinformation which aim is to advance personal interest,” said Jalad as he assured the public that the agency has a strict monitoring system for the distribution of the PPE sets.
“The Office of Civil Defense ensures that donations and other procured items are properly managed as it upholds transparency and efficient arrangements,” he said.
Nevertheless, Jalad said, “if the agency discovers any irregularities, it assures the public that appropriate actions towards people involved will be given and appropriate charges will be made as warranted.”
Jalad appealed to the public to be cautious, check sources of information, and refrain from sharing unverified information on the internet.
Authorities made a similar appeal on Monday as they described as “fake news” a message contained in a voice clip, saying President Duterte will impose a total lockdown, effective up to May 31. The Luzon-wide lockdown imposed last month is set to end on April 30. The President is set to make a decision on Thursday, on whether to lift the lockdown or modify it.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy sent off one of its ships, BRP Bacolod City, from Sangley Point in Cavite to China to pick up some 23,300 boxes of PPE sets procured by the Philippine government.
Thirty-three container vans courtesy of the Pacific Roadlink Logistics Inc are on board the ship as store room for the PPE.
Navy public affairs chief Lt Cmdr. Maria Christina Roxas said the ship is expected to arrive at the Zhangzou Port in Xiamen, China in three to four days.
Roxas said National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez sought the assistance of the Navy for fetching the PPE sets.
