According to the US Embassy, the cots were originally for the joint Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises this year, which were canceled. Apart from the cots, the US also provided nearly P204 million ($4 million) in health assistance to help the Philippine government in addressing Covid-19. Meanwhile, an Indian community in the Philippines donated more than P12 million worth of face masks to the government that would be distributed to all hospitals across the country. The donation was led by Rex Daryanani, chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), FICCI President Mike Advani and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar. The donation, which consists of 75,000 pieces of KN95 face masks and 75,000 pieces of N88 face masks, was turned over to the OCD, which was witnessed by Jalad, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr.

Source: Manila Times April 10, 2020 16:19 UTC