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Published Monday,
April 27, 2020
The
first of $1.2 million-cost
By the
A.M. Costa Rica staffcharter flights arrive from China The first of three charter flights hired arrived on Sunday, with a shipment of medical supplies donated by China, Social Security announced. Román Macaya from Social Security and Tang Heng, Chinese ambassador, showed up at the airport to receive this first shipment. On April 15, the Social Security announced the hiring of a $1.2 million DHL Global Forwarding charter flight to carry an $830,000 donation from China. According to Social Security, the Mexicana Airlines charter flight arrived at 1:15 a.m. on Sunday at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province, with a cargo of 186 cubic meters. The private flight paid for by Social Security, left the Shanghai port on April 25. The cargo includes 140,000 goggles, 40,000 disposable gowns, and 40,000 disposable surgical masks. The other two private flights contracted by Social Security are scheduled to arrive this week, with the rest of the cargo donated by China. According to Social Security, since last night the import procedures for the merchandise and quality controls for the products were carried out. To transfer the cargo, it was necessary to use five cargo trucks that delivered the cargo to the central warehouses of Social Security. It was important to hire these three private flights to have these donated supplies available in a short time, said Luis Fernando Porras -Meléndez, representative of Social Security. "Currently, countries face difficulties in removing merchandise purchased from suppliers in China, due to the high demand in the market that generates long and slow times for the exit of these goods," Porras -Meléndez said. Previously reported on April 7, the donation valued at $830,000 is an estimated charge of 600 cubic meters, which is equivalent to 55 tons of medical supplies such as N-95 respirators, disposable gowns, glasses, covers boots, gloves, masks, among others. The process of conferring the contract with DHL included administrative, technical and legal analysis following Article No. 140 of the Regulations to the Administrative Contracting Law, for the contact of the Air Transport Service for Goods, said the Social Security in its statement. According to Macaya, Social Security has always been clear with its processes. The contract with DHL was published on its website for public access to the information. Macaya also reported that Social Security is publishing all purchase contracts related to emergency care for covid-19 on its website. It was previously informed that this charter could also be used to carry the purchase of N-95 respirators and safety glasses from Chinese companies valued at $3,716,000. However, Porras -Meléndez, representative of Social Security, reported that the plane will only bring the Chinese donation. ------------------------ Should Social Security continue to hire private charters to bring medical supplies donated by other countries? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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