The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday, May 18, distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) and grocery packs worth P218,000 to doctors, nurses and other medical staff of five government hospitals fighting the deadly COVID-19 in Quezon City.

The distribution of aid to medical frontliners in five hospitals—East Avenue Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center—comprised the second phase of the “ComPassion Project,” a community outreach initiative of DENR career officials and employees, in collaboration with the Career Executive Service Board.

DENR Undersecretary for Priority Projects Jonas R. Leones, who is also the current president of the DENR Association of Career Executives, said the ComPassion Project was established out of their desire to help those affected by COVID-19, especially in Quezon City, which has so far recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections in Metro Manila.

“ComPassion was derived from the words compassion and passion. As a government agency, we thought of a campaign where we can help those who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Leones said.

Each hospital was provided with 30 sets of complete overall suit and face shields for doctors and nurses, and 30 sets of laboratory suit with hair and shoe covers and face shields for the support staff. The medical frontliners were also given grocery packs, which included alcohol and washable face masks.

During the launch of the ComPassion Project last May 11, the DENR donated P300,000 worth of grocery items to 300 low-income families in three Catholic communities in Quezon City—Parokya ng Kristong Hari and Parokya ng Mabuting Pastol, both in Barangay Commonwealth, and Good Shepherd Cathedral in Barangay Fairview.

Leones said the DENR will continue to provide assistance to pandemic-hit communities and sectors. “We are planning to help the administration by continuing our donation drive,” he said.

The DENR official added: “This is not a one-time, big-time effort. We will still be requesting donations from our senior officials and employees, so that we could continue to aid the needy.”

The DENR ComPassion Project is in coordination with Career Executive Service Board, headed by OIC-Executive Director Hiro Masuda. #