South Korea, through Ambassador Kim Inchul (center), hands over 38 cold chain trucks and vans to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (right) and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. (left) on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Photo from the South Korean Embassy in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — The government received on Tuesday 38 cold chain transportation vehicles from the South Korean government to support the Philippines’ cold chain management of COVID-19 vaccines.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. joined South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Inchul in a brief handover ceremony for the 34 refrigerated trucks and four service vans, the embassy said in a statement.
According to the embassy, the vehicles are equipped with a cold-storage system and will be deployed to various regions through the Department of Health (DOH) Centers for Health Development.
“We are very pleased to partner with DOH to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign. With the donation of these cold-chain trucks and vans, we are expecting to make a further contribution to the National Immunization Program,” Kim said.
This photo shows one of the 38 cold chain trucks and vans that South Korea, through Ambassador Kim Inchul, turned over to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Photo from the South Korean Embassy in Manila
So far, South Korea has extended a total of P10.6 billion worth of assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response, including P200 million budget support, and more than 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, among others, the embassy noted.
The embassy said South Korea will continue to provide support to the Philippines in its efforts to respond to and recover from the pandemic.
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