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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider EU provides P130-M aid to protect Filipinos from COVID-19

EU provides P130-M aid to protect Filipinos from COVID-19

Published Mar 15, 2021 03:35 pm

The European Union (EU) is providing €20 million for a new program as part of the global response to the pandemic.

(Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines Luc Véron said the project will "support preparedness and response capacities of our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian nations."

He said about €2.3 million or P130 million will directly benefit the Philippines.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines, said Monday's launch of the Southeast Asia pandemic response and preparedness grant of the EU covers eight countries including the Philippines.

"This is a €20 million grant over a three-year period and as part of that grant, the Philippines will receive €2.3 million," he said during the grant launch in Manila.

"Thank you for standing with WHO in the Philippines, with the people of this beautiful country and with the world community. Only together we can bring an end to the devastation of COVID-19," added Abeyasinghe.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also expressed his gratitude to the EU grant to the WHO for the control and suppression of the COVID-19 in the Philippines.

"This support of the EU will help ensure that the pandemic response is able to reach all those who are uniquely vulnerable experiencing barriers due to health, social as well as economic conditions," he said.

"I extend our heartfelt gratitude and sincere felicitations for your excellent leadership and collaboration…and standing shoulder to shoulder with the Filipino people in facing the most challenging public health event," added Duque.

The project in the Philippines is being funded as part of a € 20.5 million programme between the EU and WHO covering eight priority countries in South-East Asia.

The eight countries are: Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The EU is contributing € 20 million to the programme.

In all countries, the partnership aims to protect people's health and access to health services, especially among the most vulnerable by strengthening health systems.

Another aim is to increase coordination and synergies between WHO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on emergency response and preparedness, given the shared objectives, similarities and challenges shared by ASEAN Member States in the region.

Specific areas of actions under the EU grant in the Philippines are: strengthening surveillance, risk assessment and contact tracing activities; enhancing the functions of national laboratories: improving case management, infection, prevention and control; utilizing risk communications and community engagement approaches, implementing specific public health measures for travel and points of entry; scaling up readiness for COVID-19 vaccines among others.

Team Europe is the largest contributor to the COVAX Facility and has to-date provided a total of Php 130 billion, which corresponds to € 2.2 billion, to help 92 low and middle-income countries, induding the Philippines, to help gain access to COVID-19 vaccines.

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