Manila gets $3m grant from ADB
MANILA: The Philippine government, through the Department of Finance (DOF), is stepping up efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic through active collaboration and partnerships with international organizations. According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the Philippines has secured a $3 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’S Asia-pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Health and other concerned agencies to diagnose and confirm COVID-19 infections. ADB will manage the grant to include the purchase of emergency medical supplies that include personal protective equipment (PPE); increase the capacity of the Department of Health to treat mild cases through enhanced strategies (that include the building of makeshift hospitals); and improve hospital equipment. The regional development bank will also handle the selection of contract signing with and payment of suppliers.
Additionally, the World Bank is also fast-tracking a $100 million loan to enable the Department of Health ( DOH) to procure PPES for healthcare front liners, laboratory and testing materials and equipment, put up quarantine areas, isolation rooms and other essential facilities to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 that has infected 1,546 and killed 78 in the Philippines as of March 30, 2020 according to the DOH. World Bank Acting Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand Achim Fock, said their Manila office is ready with a team of specialists to assist the DOH, in quickly sourcing as much as possible the materials and equipment — some of which may not be readily available — needed in fighting the disease.
President Duterte’s economic team, led by Secretary Dominguez, earlier unveiled a package of priority actions amounting to $531.9 million (Php 27.1 billion) to help front liners in fighting the pandemic, and provide economic and social relief to the people who will be most affected by the virus-induced slowdown in economic activity.