Cebu City gov't says supplier donated ‘tuob’ kits worth P2.5M

The Cebu City government on Tuesday denied that it bought "tuob" or steam-inhalation kits worth P2.5 million for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, saying that these were donated for free.

In Ian Cruz's report on "24 Oras," the spokesperson of Mayor Edgar Labella said that though the necessary documents have been prepared, it was not approved by the mayor.

"Dahil na-mobilize na ang tuob kits, naibigay na ang mga tuob kits sa mga tao dahil naibigay na rin ito ng supplier," Atty. Rey Gealon, Labella's spokesperon, said.

The tuob kits, which were distributed to barangay isolation centers in Cebu, consisted of an electric kettle, a small basin, two hand towels, a bath towel, and a steam gown.

The city has been under fire as each kit cost P2,500, meaning that the distributed 1,000 kits amount to P2.5 million.

"Ini-waive ang payment ng supplier at iniisip na lang ito na donation. Libreng ibinigay ang nasabing tuob kits," Gealon said.

The Cebu provincial government previously proposed a steam-inhalation therapy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It also urged employees to conduct tuob twice a day.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health-Central Visayas reiterated that it does not endorse steam inhalation.

"So, 'yun po ang gusto naming iparating again and again. Hindi po namin 'yan inindorso, ang tuob, as a means of treating patients who have COVID," Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-Central Visayas spokesperon, said.