The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Friday it has expedited the release of around 57,000 test kits donated by Senator Manny Pacquiao and Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Jack Ma.
BOC said it has fast tracked the release of 57,600 COVID 19 test kits from Alibaba Foundation through the Manny Pacquiao Foundation which are intended to assist the Department of Health (DOH) in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Customs added that the BOC-NAIA has assisted the release of 1,616 importations, and foreign donations of medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shipments since March 9, 2020.
“The entire BOC, Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, Port of Cebu, Port of Clark, Port of Limay and other ports have been facilitating expeditiously all PPEs in line with the directive of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero,” the statement read.
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BOC stressed that it continues to prioritize the processing of all PPE and medical emergency supplies amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and the spread of COVID-19.
According to the DOH, there are 702 cases of COVID-19 with 45 fatalities and 28 recoveries, as of Thursday, March 26.
