US donates 1,300 cot beds for health frontliners

April 10, 2020

The United States donated on Friday more than 1,000 cot beds for health frontliners coping with the coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19).

Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, said the Philippine government, through the Office of Civil Defense, received on Friday morning a donation of 1,300 pieces of new cot beds from the United States government in a turnover ceremony at the Embassy of the United States in Roxas Boulevard.

Jalad said the cot beds will be provided to government agencies involved in the COVID-19 response.

"This donation by the US was coursed through the US Embassy to the Philippines and the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG).

Jalad said present during ceremony were US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos, and JUSMAG Chief Col. Stephen Ma.

During the event, Kim stated, "I'm pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners. We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19."

Jalad also emphasized the importance of the donation for the frontliners who are risking their lives.

“This donation is a big help to our frontliners. These will serve as their temporary beds while they are away from home, doing service amid our fight against COVID,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS