Philippines' Duterte donates one-month salary to fund anti-virus efforts

Roman Catholic faithfuls holding plant leaves observe social distancing as they wait for a priest for blessing during the Palm Sunday event in Manila on Sunday (April 5) as part of the Easter observance. Church authorities have asked the catholic faithfuls not to go to churches for the Palm Sunday blessing, but instead to stay in front of their houses as priests will go around their communities for the blessing, to observe social distancing as part of the government efforts to combat Covid-19. - AFP

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is donating a month of his salary to the national fund to combat the coronavirus disease and provide assistance to those millions of poor Filipinos affected by the month-long community quarantine imposed on March 12.

An estimated 18 million low-income households are affected by the lockdown which has brought the economy at a standstill since March 12. The government has bankrolled 200 billion pesos (US$3.9bil) emergency aid to Filipinos who have lost their sources of income due to the pandemic.