The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has begun utilizing its air assets to transport 5,260 vials of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, a military official said Monday.
Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF spokesperson, said the COVID-19 vaccines were transported by the military using a C-295 transport aircraft on March 5.
The military plane landed at the Antonio Bautista Air Base and the vaccines were handed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez.
The vaccines were subsequently turned over to Dr. Peter Cumareng, Department of Health Palawan representative. They will be used to inoculate the medical frontliners of various hospitals in the province including at Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, a COVID-referral hospital.
According to Mariano, the delivery was a fulfilment of the commitment of PAF to assist the national government in its vaccination program by bringing the vaccines to far-flung and remote areas.
To date, the country has an available supply of more than 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines.