Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) – A Vietnamese business tycoon and philanthropist shows support for the government’s fight against COVID-19.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) received over 750,000 face masks and 16,500 personal protective suits from Chairman and Founder of Vietnam-based IMEX Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), Johnathan Hanh Nguyen.
The donation was turned over to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Jr. by Nguyen’s son and IPPG-Philippines President, Henry Serrano Nguyen on Wednesday.
Locsin expressed his gratitude for Nguyen’s donation, which is essential to the ongoing efforts of the DFA to bring home thousands of overseas Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donation was brought to the Philippines through a chartered flight arranged by Nguyen with the assistance of the DFA, Department of Finance and Bureau of Customs.
Locsin also said that Vietnam may serve as a good model, given how effectively they have dealt with the global health crisis.
“We look at Vietnam to see how they are proceeding, they are doing very well in an unquarantined society and we’re gonna watch Vietnam on how they are doing it,” Locsin said.
The Southeast Asian country with a population of over 95 million people has 268 COVID-19 cases since reporting the first infection in January.
Vietnamese officials Nguyen Hong Hanh, Chargé d’Affaires, and Vu Anh Son, First Secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam were also present at the turnover ceremony.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
