MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo said Tuesday her office and its partners raised in 4 days P17.3 million for the purchase of equipment that would protect health workers at the frontlines of the country's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The funds are enough for about 36,000 sets of personnel protective equipment that will last 15 days for some 2,400 health workers, Robredo said in a Facebook post.

The Vice President said an initial batch of 7,350 PPEs were delivered to 8 hospitals in Quezon City and Manila that had COVID-19 cases. The gear will be good for 15 days for 490 workers in the following hospitals, she said:

- San Lazaro Hospital
- Philippine General Hospital
- University of the Philippines, National Institutes of Health
- Philippine Heart Center
- Quirino Memorial Medical Center
- Philippine Orthopedic Center
- VeteransMemorial Medical Center
- East Avenue Medical Center

[A] Starting tomorrow, the Office of VP Leni Robredo will provide free shuttle services for health workers and other frontliners. Routes, schedule, and other details to be announced later. #COVID19PH

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) March 17, 2020

Robredo said her office would try to deliver some 29,000 more PPEs, including surgical gowns and masks, in the next days. She also thanked Transportify and Ninjavan for helping in the delivery.

"Humihingi rin po kami ng paumanhin na hindi pa tayo makapag-deliver nang maramihan dahil sa limitasyon sa supply," she said.

(We are asking for patience that we couldn't deliver a bigger bulk due to supply limitation.)

Those with suggestion on potential PPE sources may reach out to Robredo's office at mobile number 0998 596 8820. Interested donors meanwhile may visit this link: bit.ly/forCOVID19frontliners, said Robredo.

The Vice President on Twitter also said her office would also provide free shuttle service for health workers and other frontliners, the schedule and routes of which would be announced later.

The Philippines so far confirmed 142 cases of the respiratory disease, including 12 deaths and 3 patients who recovered.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday placed the entire Luzon under a month-long community lockdown to arrest the pathogen's spread.