To help fast-track the Philippines’ mass vaccination program, the United States through its US Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed an additional $11.3 million (over P563 million) in COVID-19 response financing.
Following a Sept. 8 meeting between Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and USAID administrator Samantha Power, the US government’s aid arm said in a statement that the total financial assistance extended by Washington to Manila to date amounted to over $39 million (more than P1.9 billion).
The additional financing, in particular, will “support the country’s vaccine rollout efforts, as well as the Philippines’ national response plan to detect, manage, and treat COVID-19, especially among its most vulnerable populations,” USAID said.
On top of financial support, the US has also donated to the Philippines over six million COVID-19 vaccines “as part of President Biden’s pledge to serve as the world’s arsenal of vaccines.”
USAID had likewise provided personal protective equipment, medicines as well as hygiene kits to over 800 clinics and hospitals as well as about 44,000 Filipino healthcare workers.
“USAID supports the Philippines’ vaccine readiness and vaccine service delivery, and continues to support local governments and health authorities, including [front-line health workers], to curb further transmission, track priority populations for vaccination, help treat COVID-19 patients,” it said.