The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has been steadily increasing since a new variant, more contagious than other variants including Delta, has been found.

With funding from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A-PAD Philippines distributed over 10 tents to municipalities with evacuation centers in Cebu Island. Cebu Island, through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), a representative of the A-PAD Central Visayas Regional Platform, assisted in the distribution. These tents will be used to prevent infections and house local residents who are forced to evacuate in case of large outbreaks. 

On October 14, 2021, a hand over ceremony of the tents was held in Cebu City and attended by Mr. Toshihide Kawasaki, Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu, Mr. Gilbert Albero,  Acting President of A-PAD Philippines, and Mr. Felix Taguiam, President of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). Participants also included senior staff members from the local municipalities in Bantayan, Cordova, Naga, and Balamban and disaster risk reduction  personnel. 

Mr. Albero and Mr. Taguiam expressed their gratitude to the government of Japan for their assistance. Mr. Kawasaki remarked “I am convinced that even during this difficult time, this assistance will provide a better environment for the victims and bring a sense of safety and security.”

The Cebu Disaster Risk Reduction Center demonstrated and discussed the installation of tents during emergencies, infection prevention measures, and evacuation center management protocol.