The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will contribute JPY885 million cold chain equipment and logistics as support to the Philippines’ ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts.
The assistance will help address the Philippines’ cold chain logistics needs vital to the deployment of vaccines and medicines in times of public health emergencies like COVID-19.
“COVID-19 has underlined a fundamental reality for many nations – we are all connected and we need to help one another so we can deal with all the challenges from the pandemic,” JICA Philippines Chief Representative Azukizawa Eigo said.
“As we sign new projects for cold storage and logistics equipment for the Philippines’ efforts against COVID-19, I hope that JICA and the Philippines continue to work in unity for a safe, stable, and secure future,” he added.
The equipment complements JICA’s earlier Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the Philippines’ pandemic response and recovery that includes a JPY50 billion COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan (CCRESL) and another JPY50 billion JICA Post-Disaster Standby Loan Phase 2.
Aside from cold chain and logistics equipment, JICA has earlier provided laboratory equipment for COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, and treatment to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and San Lazaro Hospital.
JICA is the Philippines’ leading ODA partner, with the total value of JICA programs amounting to JPY260 billion in 2020, and about 80 ongoing development cooperation projects nationwide. (PR) -ag
