Senator Manny Pacquiao shared on Tuesday that he and billionaire friend Jack Ma are bringing in 50,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits.
“We’re excited to announce the Jack Ma Foundation, in partnership with Pacquiao Foundation is pledging 50,000 test kits to combat COVID-19 in the Philippines,” read Pacquiao’s Instagram post.
“With everything that’s happening around the world today, there is no better time to unite and do whatever we can to help each other. Thank you Jack Ma Foundation for this generous donation.”
Once they arrive, the test kits will immediately be turned over to the Department of Health.
Earlier, Pacquiao, the founder of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and the world’s only eight-division boxing champion, and Ma, chairman of online giant Alibaba, teamed up to donate 700,000 facemasks for the health workers and military men on the frontline of this pandemic.
There has been a shortage of protective gear for the responders over the last few days.
The masks arrived Tuesday afternoon and are ready for distribution.
The kits will be an important tool in stopping the spread of the pandemic as it will easily diagnose who are infected by COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, March 17, there have been 187 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
