Philippines: COVID-19 Emergency Response

Project Name COVID-19 Emergency Response

Project Number 54133-001

Country Philippines

Project Status Active

Project Type / Modality of Grant

Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

Grant 0685-PHI: COVID-19 Emergency Response

Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund US$ 3.00 million

Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development

Sector / Subsector Health - Disease control of communicable disease

Gender Equity and Mainstreaming No gender elements

Description The proposed activities - largely emergency medical supplies and other initial support required for dealing with the crisis - to be financed by
the requested Asia Pacific Disaster
Response Fund (APDRF) align with WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-195 which the Philippine government has also
adopted, and the Philippines' National
Contingency Plan for COVID-19 which the government is now finalizing. Specifically, one of the plan's response strategy emphasizes scaling
up country readiness and response operations by strengthening national capacity for detection, equipping and training national rapid-
response teams, infection prevention and control among health workers, and ensuring case management and continuity of essential health
services, among others.
Given the urgency of the required support and the government's constrained human resources, the Department of Finance has requested
ADB to facilitate procurement of the required medical supplies and equipment. ADB will use the most flexible and expeditious procurement
approaches, including those specified in the Implementation Guidelines for the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Facility and consistent with
paras. 16-17 of Operations Manual Section D7/OP for disaster and emergency assistance. The grant agreement will reflect the specific
arrangements.

Project Rationale and Linkage to
Country/Regional Strategy
The number of confirmed cases which accelerated over the past few weeks now reflects the extent of community transmission. Confirmed
cases are expected to increase exponentially across the country in the coming days and weeks, and will put considerable stress on the health
system, particularly hospitals in cities as well as provincial areas. The health workers, who are in close contact with the increasing number of
patients seeking treatment, will be particularly at risk of contracting the disease. Resources should be focused on monitoring the spread and
characteristics of the virus, identifying and managing severe cases, preventing onward transmission of the virus, alleviating strains on health-
care services, communicating continuously with the public and all stakeholders, and reducing overall social and economic impact. The
government needs support to augment its weak capacity and constrained financial and human resources to ensure effective and timely life-
saving efforts.
DOH is leading the country's response efforts to the outbreak and is currently being supported by the military, humanitarian development
partners, and community service
organizations. In its letter of 6 March 2020 to its international health partners, DOH reached out for support specifically to complement its
limited supply of probe sets and testing kits, primers, and personal protective equipment.
ADB's support will help alleviate the government's immediate financial, logistic, and other constraints to meet these immediate needs and
deliver appropriate medical services where
required. Recognizing the unpredictable nature of the situation, flexibility is required in the design of any support along with close
coordination with various sources and partners providing support. Based on ADB's assessment and DOH's prioritization, urgent support will be
required for procuring diagnostic reagents and equipment, materials for makeshift hospitals, and personal protection and key medical
equipment. Other needs may be identified as the situation evolves in the next few weeks.

Impact To alleviate the government's immediate financial, logistic, and other constraints to meet these immediate needs and deliver appropriate
medical services where required

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome To alleviate the government's immediate financial, logistic, and other constraints to meet these immediate
needs and deliver appropriate medical services where required

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs To alleviate the government's immediate financial, logistic, and other constraints to meet these immediate
needs and deliver appropriate medical services where required

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and

Issues)

Geographical Location Nation-wide

Safeguard Categories

Environment FI

Involuntary Resettlement FI

Indigenous Peoples FI
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

During Project Implementation

Responsible ADB Officer Elfving, Rikard N.

Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division Human and Social Development Division, SERD

Executing Agencies Department of Health

Tayuman Street
Sta. Cruz, Manila
Philippines

Timetable

Concept Clearance -

Fact Finding 13 Mar 2020 to 13 Mar 2020

MRM 25 Apr 2020

Approval 13 Mar 2020

Last Review Mission -

Last PDS Update 16 Mar 2020

Grant 0685-PHI
Milestones

Closing
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date
Original Revised Actual

13 Mar 2020 16 Mar 2020 16 Mar 2020 16 Sep 2020 - -

Financing Plan Grant Utilization

Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage

Project Cost 3.00 Cumulative Contract Awards

ADB 3.00 13 Mar 2020 0.00 0.00 0%

Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements

Cofinancing 0.00 13 Mar 2020 0.00 0.00 0%

Project Page https://www.adb.org/projects/54133-001/main

Request for Information http://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form?subject=54133-001
Date Generated 02 April 2020

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