The Government of Canada announced today that it is providing more than CAD$ 1.1 million (approx P44.5 million) in additional COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat that does not recognize borders and can only be overcome through coordinated action around the world. The Government of Canada is therefore pleased to partner with the Philippines in its efforts to combat the virus.
Two initiatives are being launched to help support the Philippines through the COVID-19 pandemic:
– Canada is donating to the Philippines 120,000 N95 PPE masks valued at CAD$ 782,000 (approx P 29.5 million) as part of Canada’s CAD$ 4.5 million in-kind contribution to six ASEAN member states.
– Canada is adding CAD$ 400,000 (approx PhP 15.2 million) to the existing CAD$ 17.8 million Sexual Health and Empowerment Philippines (SHE) project with Oxfam to ensure the unhampered provision of sexual and reproductive health services during COVID-19.
This investment complements ongoing response activities, including the establishment of an emergency hotline for health services and gender-based violence, procurement of PPEs for barangay health workers, and distribution of family planning information materials.
The additional funding will support core activities of the SHE project which aims to improve the quality, availability, and uptake of health services of over 85,000 women of reproductive ages as well as adolescent girls and boys in conflict-affected and disadvantaged regions in the Philippines.
Canada continues to contribute to international efforts by providing urgent and necessary funding to support the most vulnerable. This reflects a commitment to deliver a Feminist International Assistance Policy, particularly in advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.
Canada is also supporting other ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, by providing PPEs and capacity-building for the Philippines-led ASEAN BioDiaspora Virtual Centre within the ASEAN Emergency Operations Centre Network. The Philippines is also one of the beneficiary-countries identified to receive COVID-19 diagnostic equipment, testing kits, reagents, and laboratory consumables as part of a CAD$ 5 million global project Canada is funding through the International Atomic Energy Agency. /Stacy Ang
