Vaccines Top Discussions in PH-Canada Meeting

Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso and Assistant Deputy Minister Paul Thoppil led the Philippine and Canadian Delegations, respectively, to the 5th PH-CA JCBC on 03-04 March 2021.

PASAY CITY 04 March 2021 — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Elizabeth P.  Buensuceso led the Philippine Delegation to the 5th Meeting of the Philippines-Canada Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) on 3-4 March 2021, where the Philippines’ request to be given allocation in the final development of Canada's Vaccine Surplus Global Distribution Plan was considered.

The meeting also discussed COVID-19 pandemic response, regional developments, human rights, development cooperation, public safety and security, energy and environment, trade and investment, education, agriculture,  science and technology, labor and migration, cooperation in the multilateral and regional fora; including the development of a  Joint Action Plan that will guide further cooperation activities.

The next JCBC is expected to be held in 2023. END

Speakers for 3 March Session. L-R, Row 1: Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso, Assistant Deputy Minister Paul Thoppil, Ambassador James Peter MacArthur; Row 2: Ambassador Rodolfo Robles, NEDA Director Hazel Baliatan; OPAPP Director Wendell Orbeso; Row 3: OCD Director Bernardo Alejandro, DOE Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III, and DFA-OIER Assistant Secretary Eric Gerard Tamayo.

Speakers for 4 March Session. L-R, Row 1: Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso, Assistant Deputy Minister Paul Thoppil,  Ambassador Rodolfo Robles; Row 2: Ambassador James Peter MacArthur; DFA-OAA Assistant Secretary Maria Lumen Isleta, DTI-BITR DIrector Angelo Salvador Benedictos; Row 3:  Agriculture Attaché Josyline Javellosa, DOST Assistant Secretary Leah Buendia; CHED Director Lily Freida Milla; Row 4:  DFA-OIER Assistant Secretary Eric Gerard Tamayo.