Chinese businessman Jack Ma donates .5 million face masks for PH efforts vs COVID-19
MANILA – The Department of Finance said Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma pledged to donate 500,000 face masks to the Philippine government to help in its efforts to cushion the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said Mr. Ma committed to begin the delivery of the 500,000 masks either later this week or early next week through the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation.
He thanked Mr. Ma for his “generosity and desire” to help the Philippines in the fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to personally send my best regards and hope we can do something for the Philippines to fight this virus,” Mr. Ma said in a phone conversation with Secretary Dominguez. The Chinese businessman said he hopes he can do something more.
In response, Secretary Dominguez said “Thank you very much, Jack. This is very, very much needed here, and I will tell our President right away of your generosity and your desire to help,” he added.
Mr. Ma also provided Secretary Dominguez a downloadable electronic handbook that could help Philippine doctors, nurses and other health workers remain sage and avoid infection while treating COVID-19 patients.
The handbook, published by the Jack Ma Foundation, highlights China’s lessons learned from fighting COVID-19 and is co-authored by several medical experts who served at the frontlines of China’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Mr. Ma told Secretary Dominguez the handbook as guide resulted in the recovery of 96 percent of the patients and none of the doctors and nurses got infected.
“So I’m putting it online and I hope you can share it with the doctors and nurses and the hospitals in need,” Secretary Dominguez quoted Mr. Ma in their phone conversation.
The Philippine finance secretary informed Mr. Ma of the Philippine government’s stringent efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. (Melo M. Acuña)
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III (File Photo/DOF)