BOC clears 2.5-M doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far

The aircraft carrying China’s donation of 600,000 doses of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine arrives in the Philippines on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy of PCOO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has so far cleared and released over 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines that arrived in the country these past months.

The latest batch cleared for release by the BOC were the one million doses of CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine of China’s Sinovac Biotech that were procured by the government. The vaccines arrived at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City via Philippine Airlines flight no. PR361 in the afternoon of March 29.

BOC said Wednesday that the Sinovac vaccines were pre-cleared on March 26, using its One Stop Shop Advance Clearance Procedure.

“This is the fifth batch of COVID-19 vaccines that arrived at the Port of NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), and the first batch procured by the Philippine government. In sum, the BOC already processed, cleared and released over 2.5 million doses of vaccines,” the BOC said in a statement.

The vaccines were likewise escorted by BOC personnel until its safe delivery and discharge at Metropac Cold Storage Facility in Marikina City before the distribution.

The latest delivery of Sinovac vaccines raised the country’s total secured COVID-19 vaccine doses to 2,525,600.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero vowed the preparedness of the bureau to expeditiously process, clear and release arriving COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan assured that the port will remain dedicated in ensuring the timely and immediate release of personal protective equipment and medical supplies amid the pandemic.

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