DFA Organizes a Briefing on Vaccine Development for FSPs

From top to bottom: Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns and Chairperson of the DFA’s Task Force on Pandemic Threats Atty. Brigido J. Dulay, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Sub-TWG Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, and
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Treaties and Legal Affairs Igor G. Bailen

PASAY CITY 14 October 2020 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), represented by the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs (OTLA), together with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development (Sub-TWG), organized a briefing on vaccine development for Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) on 25 September 2020.

Over 180 participants from more than 60 Philippine embassies, missions and consulates all over the world participated in the briefing.

The briefing was conducted to update FSPs on the latest vaccine development initiatives by the Philippine government, including the latest guidelines and protocols issued by the Sub-TWG; and to provide an opportunity for FSPs to ask members of the Sub-TWG about topics of interest, such as the regulatory processes, possible consortia, availability of local manufacturers, among other matters.

Atty. Brigido Dulay, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns and Chairperson of the DFA’s Task Force on Pandemic Threats, recognized the significant role that Philippine embassies and consulates play through their valuable inputs and leads that contribute to the national strategy on vaccine procurement, collaboration and development.

Speakers during the briefing included Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Sub-TWG Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Board of Investment Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, Food and Drug Authority (FDA) Director Jesusa Joyce Cirunay and National Development Company (NDC) General Manager Ma. Lourdes F. Rebueno.

Created through the IATF Resolution No. 39, the Sub-TWG is composed of senior officials from the DFA, DOH, DOST, DTI, FDA, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and NDC, with the mandate to facilitate coordination and collaboration among agencies for matters related to the country’s vaccine development efforts, including participation in clinical trials. END