QC partners with IFC to strengthen pandemic response programs

THE QUEZON City government has partnered with the World Bank’s International Finance Corp. (IFC) to strengthen pandemic response capacity by building up on existing programs laid out for the coronavirus outbreak.    

In a statement released on Wednesday, the IFC said it will provide advisory services to the local government to help “future-proof” the city’s vaccination strategy and facilities, improve vaccination rates, and logistics, among other areas.  

“We expect that this partnership with IFC will help cover all bases and further solidify our programs and projects to combat COVID-19, especially our vaccination and testing initiatives,” Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte said.  

“While Quezon City is already considered as ‘very low risk’ for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), we should not rest on our laurels and there must be no room for complacency. We must not let our guard down until we achieve total victory over this virus,” she added.  

According to Quezon City’s QC Protektado website, 2.4 million individuals have been vaccinated as of March 22, with a total of 5.5 million doses administered. The local government operates about 140 vaccination centers.    

Quezon City has the biggest population among highly-urbanized cities in the country with 2.96 million as of the 2020 census.   

“We are delighted to partner with Quezon City as it seeks to improve its pandemic response efforts,” IFC Country Manager for the Philippines Jean-March Arbogast said.   

“Supporting subnational governments and cities, which are often at the forefront of climate change and pandemic response efforts, is crucial. We look forward to a long term and fruitful partnership with Quezon City and to supporting more cities in the Philippines,” he said.  

The International SOS Foundation, a health and risk management company, is supporting IFC in its partnership with Quezon City.  

IFC is also working with the local government on carbon mitigation projects, focusing on sustainable transport and green corridors.  

The IFC has invested more than $5.5 billion to 160 projects in the Philippines in areas of climate change, sustainability and inclusivity. — Tobias Jared Tomas