Harris in PH: US to invest $5M for COVID-19 vax rollout, will help veterans, child sex victims

US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Manila on Sunday night for a three-day visit and will announce the US government's $5 million investment in the Philippines for COVID-19 vaccine rollout as well as its initiatives in helping Filipino veterans and child survivors of online sexual exploitation, the US Embassy said Monday.

Health security

The embassy said the US government will invest $5 million to further accelerate vaccine rollout through the Global VAX initiative against COVID-19.

Subject to availability of funds, the US government will also invest $8 million to help the Philippines prevent avoidable outbreaks, detect health threats early, and respond rapidly and effectively when outbreaks occur.

“In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have established a new country office in the Philippines. These efforts reflect the United States’ prioritization of US-Philippines health partnership under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA),” the embassy said.

Veterans

Moreover, the US Department of Veterans Affairs will ensure Filipino veterans of the US military and their family can benefit from the PACT Act, a law that “expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.”

This includes the launching of a Tagalog-language version of the PACT Act claims portal.

To recall, US President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act in August this year to provide generations of veterans and their families “with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”

OSEC

The US Embassy also said the US government will launch a new program with World Hope to combat the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) and support OSEC survivors in the Philippines

“[This] reflects our shared commitment to eliminating human trafficking and preventing children from being exploited by sex traffickers and online predators,” it added.

The US Vice President, who arrived in Manila on Sunday night after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, is scheduled to meet President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

She will also travel to Palawan, one of the areas in the country closest to the West Philippine Sea.

Among the other initiatives Harris will launch are those concerning civil nuclear cooperation, food security, and 5G technology.

The Philippines and the US will also discuss the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights (UNJP) during Harris' visit, the US Embassy said. —Mel Matthew Doctor/KG, GMA Integrated News