Philippines and Japan Sign Agreement on the Donation of a Million Doses of Vaccines 

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Neal Imperial (left) signs the Exchange of Notes on the Donation of Japanese Vaccines, on behalf of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., while Japanese Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Masahiro Nakata (right) signs on behalf of Japan

PASAY CITY, 30 June 2021 - The Philippines and Japan signed the Exchange of Notes on the Donation of Japanese Vaccines on 29 June 2021, formalizing the provision of approximately one million AstraZeneca vaccines produced in Japan for the Philippines. The vaccines are on top of the Japanese Government’s contribution to the COVAX facility, and will arrive in the Philippines early July.

The donation is a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Japan, which encompasses a broad spectrum of engagements including this health cooperation initiative. This commitment comes alongside high-level exchanges, the most recent of which was a phone call between President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide last 19 May 2021 when both leaders expressed solidarity in combatting the pandemic.

Since the pandemic, the Japanese Government has pledged over JPY100 billion assistance in emergency and standby loans as well as support to the vaccination cold chain facilities of the Philippines.

On behalf of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Imperial extended his gratitude to the Japanese government for this timely and generous donation.

The Philippines and Japan also commemorate 65 years of the normalization of bilateral relations and 10 years of strategic partnership this year. END.