MANILA--A University of the Philippines group raised some P1.8 million to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies to be donated to some hospitals in Metro Manila.

The UP Vanguard, a group of officials and members of the reserve officer training corps at the state university, said in a statement on Saturday that they raised the amount to buy PPEs for frontliners working at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City and Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

About 500 masks have also been sent to Amang Rodriguez and the UP Los Baños campus, the UP Vanguard said, part of efforts to battle the novel coronavirus.

Other funds will also be used for UP students stranded at dormitories in Diliman and Los Baños due to the lockdown in Luzon.

Those who want to help the UP Vanguard can email the group at secretariat@upvanguardinc.org.