Photo: WHO/G Maramag
The World Health Organization supports the Philippine government’s COVID-19 response by strengthening the Department of Health’s (DOH) Bureau of Quarantine, which ensures that points of entry into the country are safe from the spread of infectious diseases, and inspects health conditions of incoming and outgoing vessels and aircraft.
On 29 October, Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative in the Philippines, handed over IT equipment to Bureau of Quarantine Director Ferdinand Salcedo at WHO Philippines. The Bureau will use the equipment, amounting to an estimated USD 15,000 (PhP672,000) at their Manila headquarters and in seven major ports of entry in the Philippines to ensure an efficient surveillance process to detect COVID-19.
"WHO Philippines supports the Bureau of Quarantine in their tireless work to protect returning overseas Filipino travellers,” said Dr Abeyasinghe. “We continue to work together to strengthen health information systems and timely sharing of data at major ports of entry in the Philippines. As long as the virus continues to circulate, we are not safe. We continue to be vigilant and do everything we can to stop transmission of COVID-19.”