Hospital frontliners that consist of a nurse and security guards wear personal protective equipments as they man the entrance of an emergency room. March 24, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to process all donations to the government for the fight against COVID-19 so it can manage the distribution of medical gear to hospitals.
Duterte, through Administrative Order No. 27 signed on Tuesday but made public only on Wednesday, tasked the OCD to serve as the main coordinating body for donated supplies.
"There is an imperative need to properly consolidate and manage all donations of medicines, medical equipment and supplies, and other health products to address COVID-19," Duterte said.
All donated medicines, medical equipment and supplies,and other health products meant to support the fight against COVID-19 must be coordinated with the OCD, the President said.
The policy covers all donations coming from foreign governments, private entities and groups, and non-government organizations.
Donations coursed through other government bureaus, departments, hospitals, schools, and medical facilities are still allowed but must be reported to the OCD.
The President also granted the OCD the authority to reallocate donations received by other government offices if an assessment shows that there is another beneficiary that needs it more.
Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., who was designated as chief implementer of the government's response protocol against COVID-19, will oversee the OCD's actions.
For accounting purposes, the President directed the OCD to prepare an inventory of all donations. It should also coordinate with the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and the government Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 to determine which hospitals or establishments are in need of the donations.
The OCD is also directed to submit a weekly report to the Office of the President on its actions regarding the donations.
In distributing the donations, the President ordered the Department of National Defense to provide means for the delivery of the donated supplies.
Several governments, companies, and private individuals have pledged donations of medical gear to health workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.
Philippines, OCD, Office of Civil Defense, COVID-19, personal protective equipment, PPE, coronavirus, new coronavirus, Rodrigo Duterte