Date Released: 22 April 2020 Releasing Officer: DIR. ARSENIO R. ANDOLONG Chief, Public Affairs Service

Top security officials receive 20,000 test kits, over 200k masks

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and Secretary of National Defense led top security and defense officials in receiving donated test kits and face masks from Mr. Kim Wong of Oriental Group on 21 April 2020 at the Department of National Defense.

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon led top security and defense officials in receiving 20,000 test kits and over 200,000 face masks from Mr Kim Wong of Oriental Group yesterday, April 21.

On hand to receive the items were Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, Office of Civil Defense Chief Ricardo B. Jalad, Department of Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuason, AFP Chief of Staff Felimon Santos Jr., Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia and other officials.

"I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Mr Kim Wong of Oriental Group for donating 20,000 rapid test kits (RTK) that will be used to screen over 45,000 Overseas Filipino Workers expected to arrive in the coming days," Secretary Esperon said.

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National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana led top security and defense officials in receiving donated test kits and face masks from Mr. Kim Wong of Oriental Group on 21 April 2020 at the Department of National Defense.

In addition to the RTK, they also received 200,000 surgical face masks, 6,000 N95 masks, 3,000 PPEs, and 1,000 goggles.

These equipment and kits are expected to shorten the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for returning as they can immediately identify, isolate, and treat those who are positive for COVID-19.

Mr. Kim also committed to donate another 25,000 rapid test kits to cover all inbound seafarers and OFWs.

"His generosity is unprecedented, as this comes on top of his earlier donation of over 75,000 RTKs to the different local government units, the AFP, and the PNP," Secretary Esperon said, recalling Mr. Wong's donation on April 1.

"These will surely further help us fight our battles against COVID-19 and bring our country closer to normalcy," Secretary Esperon added.

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/dndphl @dndphl /defenseph DND Press Release | Page 2 of 2