US donates 100 ventilators to Philippines for COVID-19 pandemic response
MANILA, Philippines — The United States government on Friday handed over 100 ventilators to the Philippines.
The turnover took place at Malacañang and was led by US Ambassador Sung Kim, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“These ventilators are part of the continued partnership between the American people and our Philippine friends, partners, and allies. We will continue to work together to overcome COVID-19,” Kim said in a statement sent to reporters.
The press release from the US Embassy in the Philippines added that the Department of Health would facilitate the delivery of the 100 ventilators to hospitals across the country in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and the US Agency for International Development.
"In addition to the ventilators, [USAID] will provide clinical training and technical assistance to support health facilities to operate ventilators," the statement read.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced the incoming donation on August 10, tweeting that he "received a kind offer of 100 units of Vyaire Ventilators model LTV 2200 valued at $1,557,520.00."
According to the American embassy, the donation of "state-of the-art ventilators and associated supplies" brings the total US contribution to the country's pandemic response to over P1 billion.
It further noted that this assistance was provided through the US State Department, USAID and the US Department of Defense.
A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism noted that, globally, “3-5% of COVID-19 patients require mechanical ventilation.”
The health department on Thursday placed the country's total number of coronavirus infections at 205,581 and fatalities at 3,234.— Bella Perez-Rubio
A thread of major developments in the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States from April to December 2020. (Photo by AFP/Mark Cristino)
US national security adviser Robert O'Brien affirms Washington's commitment to the Philippines in protecting its sovereign rights, offshore resources and rights consistent with international law.
Citing Washington's realignment of its position on the South China Sea with the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidate Beijing's expansive claims, O'Brien stresses that resources in the area belong to the Filipino people.
"They don’t belong to some other country that just because might, they may be big, and they may be bigger than the Philippines, they can come take away and convert the resources of the Philippine people," O'Brien says.
The US Embassy in the Philippines says the US government has turned over 150 laptop computers, printers, projectors and 80 sets of learning materials to the Department of Education through the United States Agency for International Development.
"This assistance is part of USAID’s Opportunity 2.0, a five-year, P1.9-billion ($37.5 million) project that works with DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and local governments to support their ongoing programs to provide relevant education, employability skills, and work experience to out-of-school youth," the US Embassy says in a statement.
The US government launches a new program to provide second-chance opportunities to at least 180,000 out-of-school youth in the Philippines.
Under the five-year "Opportunity 2.0" project, which is worth P1.9 billion, the USAID will partner with DepEd and TESDA to augment their ongoing programs that provide relevant education, employability skills and work experience.
"Through this new partnership, we can leverage a range of resources to maximize the potential of the Filipino youth, particularly those who are out-of-school or unemployed. With the right knowledge, attitudes, and skills, they will play a pivotal role in this great country’s growth and success over the long-term," US Ambassador Sung Kim says.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to discuss the recent change in US policy on maritime claims in the South China Sea, the US Department of State says.
The two foreign ministers also discussed US support for Southeast Asian coastal states upholding their sovereign rights and interests consistent with international law, as well as opportunities for further maritime cooperation between the two countries.
"The two secretaries also discussed the strong economic, security, and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries," the statement read.
The US Army and Marine Corps service members, in partnership with the Philippine Air Force, Army and Coast Guard, deliver an additional P11.4 million ($236,000) worth of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to hospitals in 11 cities in the Philippines.
The latest donation brings the total assistance of the US government to the Philippines' efforts against COVID-19 to P989 million (more than $20 million).
"This latest delivery of U.S. government assistance for Filipino frontliners in the battle against COVID-19 is a testament to our ongoing commitment to help the Philippines defeat the pandemic," US Ambassador Sung Kim says.
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