US provides additional $11.3-million COVID-19 aid to Philippines

The United States on Friday announced an additional $11.3-million aid to the Philippines to support its COVID-19 vaccine rollout as the country grapples with a fast-spreading Delta variant outbreak for several weeks already.

On Tuesday, the government extended a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila until September 15, deferring an earlier plan to shift the capital to a more relaxed quarantine classification.

Apart from provision of vaccines, Washington's assistance through USAID is  intended to support the country’s national response plan to detect, manage, and treat COVID-19, especially among its most vulnerable populations, its embassy in Manila said.

"This support brings the total USAID, US Department of State, and US Department of Defense COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to more than $39 million since the start of the pandemic," an embassy statement said.

On Thursday, Manila logged its highest number of cases in a single day with 22,820. Total number of confirmed cases rose to 2.16 million, while fatalities reached 34,733.

"As part of President Biden’s pledge to serve as the world’s arsenal of vaccines, the United States has donated more than 6 million doses to the Philippines to help save lives and end the pandemic," the embassy said.

"Additionally, USAID has supported approximately 44,000 frontline healthcare workers and strengthened more than 800 hospitals and clinics, as well as procured essential items such as personal protective equipment (PPE), medicines, hygiene kits, and other life-saving products, to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 response."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., currently in the US for an official visit, met with counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington where they discussed the pandemic and America's commitment to support Manila in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are standing shoulder to shoulder in combating COVID-19 and looking at ways to build back better from the pandemic," Blinken said at a joint briefing with Locsin at the State Department.

Locsin said the response of the United States "has been one that galvanized the effort to fight the pandemic in the Philippines."

"People were a bit wary about other alternatives but when Biden came across, President Biden, and gave a huge shipment of vaccines, it really worked well," Locsin said.

USAID, the embassy said, has vowed to support the Philippines’ vaccine readiness and vaccine service delivery.

It will also continue assisting local government units and health authorities, including frontline healthcare workers, to curb further transmission, track priority populations for vaccination, and help treat COVID patients whether they are in a hospital or home. — RSJ, GMA News