The House Committee on Appropriations approved on Tuesday a P1.6-billion supplemental budget that the Department of Health (DoH) can use in addressing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said the amount would be used to purchaseprotective equipment for health workers, fund the quarantine of patients and acquire equipment needed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine. Duque said personal protective equipment (PPE) would be provided to 5,000 workers for three months or 90 days. Also on Tuesday, the Department of Tourism (DoT) called for calm and vigilance as the country continues to record cases of local transmission of the coronavirus. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat also called on the tourism industry to “extend any assistance possible” to affected tourists.

Source: Manila Times March 10, 2020 16:18 UTC