Philippines: Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 Under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility Additional Financing Project (HEAL2-AF)

OBJECTIVE

To support the Government of the Philippines for procurement of eligible COVID-19 vaccines.

DESCRIPTION

This project is proposed to be supported under AIIB’s COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility and co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the procurement of vaccines eligible under ADB’s Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) program. The project will provide critically needed vaccines to assist the Government of the Philippines in mitigating adverse health, social, and economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

The loan is co-financed with and led by ADB. The project’s environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the project, and as permitted under AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), ADB’s SPS will apply to the project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed ADB’s SPS and is satisfied that: (a) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP, including the Environmental and Social Exclusion List and the relevant Environmental and Social Standards; and (b) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the project.

Under its SPS, ADB has categorized the project as Category C for Environment, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples on the basis that no adverse ES impacts are expected. The project is categorized as “effective gender mainstreaming”, as it will expand social assistance for the poor and vulnerable with clear linkages to women’s welfare.