12
2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines
12
While on the equitable distribution of health protective equipment, as of 14 September
2020, a total of 4,327,149 sets of government-procured personal protective equipment
(PPE) were delivered to various recipients detailed as follows: National Offices – 97,950;
Regional Offices – 1,157,612; LGUs – 460,537; Government Hospitals – 2,156,240; and
Private Hospitals – 454. Breakdown per Region:31
Regions
PPE Sets
NCR
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
1,637,050
Region I
210,300
Region II
145,387
Region III
884,612
CALABARZON
452,300
MIMAROPA
104,400
CAR
111,200
Region V
156,000
Region VI
145,400
Region VII
171,500
Region VIII
93,300
Region IX
34,500
Region X
34,700
Region XI
52,300
Region XII
33,500
CARAGA
25,500
BARMM
35,200
Total
4,327,149
13
The DOH said that they would intensify and expand the daily testing capacity to 30,000.
Only in August did the DOH increase its daily testing capacity to 27,800 and addressed
its data backlog. As of 6 August 2020, the DOH said that there are a total of 100 testing
laboratories throughout the Philippines eligible to conduct RT-PCR (Reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction) tests to diagnose possible infections of COVID-19. 32 33 Other
than the pandemic’s actual impact on public health, the DOH drew flak after providing
VIP treatment to several public officials and their spouses and/or other family members
instead of prioritizing the most vulnerable and medical workers. There were also reports
that some persons exhibiting signs of COVID-19 died without knowing their results.34
14
As a complementary to the performance of the national government, some local government
units have shown outstanding performances in combating the ill-effects of the pandemic.
According to the survey conducted by Publicus Asia, Valenzuela, Pasig, Manila, Marikina,
31
See https://www.doh.gov.ph/doh-press-release/FIRST-BATCH-OF-1M-PROCURED-PERSONAL%20
-PROTECTIVE-EQUIPMENT-SETS-ARRIVES-IN-THE-COUNTRY.
32
Neil Arwin Mercado, Duque admits no COVID-19 mass testing ever conducted since outbreak, Inquirer, May 21
2020,available at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1278855/duque-admits-no-COVID-19-mass-testing-ever-conductedsince-outbreak#ixzz6QHe6Pf L, accessed 24 June 2020.
33
Madarang, Catalina Ricci S., An 85% COVID-19 response score? Philippines quarantine stretches 6 months, Philstar.
com, September 16, 2020 available at https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2020/09/16/176963/6-monthsquarantine-philippines-covid19-response-duterte-admin/, accessed 22 September 2020.
34
Gaea Katreena Cabico, “DOH: No VIP treatment on testing but courtesy given to important officials,” Philstar,
March23, 2020, available at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/03/23/2002929/doh-no-vip-treatment-testingcourtesy-given-important-officials, accessed 15 June 2020.