MANILA - The family of the richest Filipino, former senator Manny Villar, on Wednesday said they have donated disinfecting apparatus, face masks and drinking water to government hospitals to support the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

The first batch of disinfecting apparatus was donated to 9 government hospitals, the Villar family said in a statement.

Some 200,000 face masks and a supply of bottled water were also donated through the Department of Health (DOH), the statement said.

Some hospitals have earlier called for help due to the dwindling supply of personal protective equipment and face masks.

“In response to the escalating number of Filipinos affected by COVID-19, we are doing our part to support the efforts of the government to stop the transmission of the coronavirus," said Manny Villar, husband of Sen. Cynthia Villar and father of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.

The Villars operate Starmalls, Camella Homes, Vista Land and AllHome, among others.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Philippine Heart Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center and Las Piñas General Hospital will receive the first batch of donations, the family said.

The SM group and the Gokongwei group earlier said they have allocated millions of pesos for the purchase of protective equipment to support the fight against the virus.

GT Capital Holdings, San Miguel Corp and the Ayala group have also pledged support for various efforts to contain the disease.