World Bank OKs $100 million Philippines loan

MANILA, Philippines — The World Bank has announced approval of a fresh $100-million loan for the Philippines’ COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, specifically to help the country address the urgent needs of the healthcare sector.

The project, which will be implemented by the Department of Health (DOH), will help strengthen the delivery of essential healthcare in the country.

“Boosting the country’s capacity to respond to COVID-19 will save lives,” said Achim Fock, World Bank acting country director for the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand.

“The government has taken quick and decisive action in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the World Bank is proud to support its efforts. Right now, no other investment offers greater return,” Fock said.

The project will focus on the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles, gloves, gowns; drugs such as antivirals, antibiotics and essential medicines; and medical supplies such as intensive care unit equipment and devices such as mechanical ventilators, cardiac monitors, portable x-ray machines; laboratory equipment and test kits.

In addition, it will support the necessary logistics and supply chains to help ensure that the equipment reach frontline health facilities without delay.

The project will also support the DOH in preparing guidance for standard design for hospital isolation and treatment centers for managing Severe Acute Respiratory Infections patients.

World Bank said the project will also fund the expansion of the country’s laboratory capacity at the national and sub-national levels for prevention of and preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.

It will also finance the retrofitting of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) as well as six sub-national and public health laboratories in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Manila.

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project is part of the World Bank Group’s fast-track package to strengthen response to the pandemic in several countries.

On April 9, the World Bank’s board of executive directors also approved $500 million in financing to help strengthen the Philippine government’s capacity to address disaster risks, including those spawned by the COVID-19 crisis.

The World Bank is deploying up to $160 billion in financial support over the next 15 months to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response, increase disease surveillance, improve public health interventions and help the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs.