Duterte thanks outgoing British envoy for boosting Philippines' vaccine access

August 5 ------ President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday thanked British Ambassador Daniel Pruce for helping the Philippines get access to COVID-19 vaccines as the envoy made his farewell call in Malacañang. Pruce will be replaced by British diplomat Laure Beaufils, who is set to assume her post as UK's Ambassador to the Philippines this month. In a Palace statement, Duterte thanked the United Kingdom for donating 415,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses that augmented the Philippines' inoculation program.

"President Duterte cited Ambassador Pruce’s personal role in improving vaccine access for the Philippines eventually leading to the conclusion of the innovative Tripartite Agreement between GPH, LGUs, and Private Sector for the procurement of AstraZeneca vaccines," read the Malacañang statement. Meanwhile, Duterte also urged British government for the "finalization" of memorandum of understanding on recruitment of Filipino healthcare workers to ensure “fair, ethical and sustainable recruitment and employment of Filipino healthcare professionals in the UK." Also, Pruce underscored that the diplomatic coordination between both countries will continue to grow.

Source: gmanetwork.com