Australia pledges AUD500M to help SEA get vaccine, vows to prioritize Cebu

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson. | CDN Digital Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Australian government vowed to help Southeast Asian nations, like the Philippines, in acquiring vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson made this announcement during his visit here in Cebu on Friday, January 29.

Robinson said they will pledge a total of AUD 500 million of financial assistance to all countries in Southeast Asia for the procurement and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The Australian government has committed half a billion Australian dollars, that’s AUD500 million, to Southeast Asia, portions of it will be for the Philippines. This is for the purchase of vaccines but also provision of technical assistance in the rolling out of vaccines,” said Robinson.

Robinson also said that they are eyeing Cebu as the ‘first stop’ of the vaccine rollout here in the Philippines.

“How we go in rolling out those (vaccines) out across the Philippines. All of that becomes very important so hence, Cebu is the first stop. It’s the second-largest city in the Philippines and it’s huge,” he explained.

The diplomat added that the amount will cover COVID-19 inoculation programs that will span within two to three years.

In the Philippines, Robinson also said the Australian government has been coordinating closely with the national government here, particularly vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., testing czar Vivencio Dizon, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“Because we think the critical issue for the Philippines, like Australia, is actually the inoculation program. Because we’ve got such a diverse geographical spread… We’ve got to move vaccines to some really quite remote areas to make sure everyone’s vaccinated,” he explained.

“And you have the education campaign, trying to get people to accept the vaccines because we’re going to have everyone inoculated. We’re trying to work out to come up with a system doing all of that,” he added.

Robinson was in Cebu to discuss plans and preparations for the 75th Australian-Filipino Friendship Day slated this May 22.

He also said he paid courtesy visits to local government officials here to express support and gratitude for the strengthening relationship between the Philippine and Australian governments. /rcg

READ MORE: Preps ongoing for COVID vaccine rollout in Cebu