11 Filipino Chinese organizations, led by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), announce donation of P100 million worth of medical supplies “to help DOH with testing kits and other paraphernalia” for COVID-19 prevention pic.twitter.com/IBkseu8QbL

— Willard Cheng (@willardcheng) March 13, 2020

MANILA (UPDATE) - Several Filipino-Chinese organizations on Friday announced they would be donating some P100 million worth of medical supplies to help the Philippines fight the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Through this, we hope to help our hardworking and noble health authorities and health personnel ensure that our people in the Philippines will get access to fast screening and good health care," Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc (FFCCCII) president Henry Lim Bon Liong said in a press conference in Quezon City.

The FFCCCII will be coordinating with the Chinese Embassy "to send us additional emergency supplies as well as their topnotch medical doctors and personnel who are experts in handling COVID-19 to be able to come over here to augment our own Filipino medical doctors and personnel."

FFCCCII vice president Cecilio Pedro also urged fellow businessmen to implement President Rodrigo Duterte's directives to curb the spread of the virus.

His company is doing its share of sacrifice, implementing social distancing in its factories to ensure space and employee safety, said Pedro, also president and CEO of Lamoiyan Corporation that manufactures Hapee toothpaste, Dazz cleanser, among other products.

To cope with the pandemic, FFCCCII called on its members to advance the grant of 13th month pay to their employees.

The donors are FFCCCII, Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines, World News Daily, Filipino Chinese Amity Club, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines, Filipino Chinese Shin Lian Association, Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCII), Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Philippine Jin Jiang Shen Fu Zhen Association, and World Fujian Youth Association & Business Club.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has recorded 52 cases of COVID-19, with 5 deaths.

• COVID-19 cases in Philippines rise to 52
• DOH confirms deaths of 3 more COVID-19 patients

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday also announced that Metro Manila would be placed under "community quarantine" starting Sunday after health authorities raised the country's alert status to Code Red, Sub-level 2 due to “sustained community transmission.”

• Metro Manila on ‘community quarantine’ as COVID-19 cases rise

Over 125,000 people have contracted the virus worldwide with more than 4,600 deaths, latest World Health Organization figures showed.

Most cases were recorded in China, the epicenter of the outbreak. - With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News