The Philippines’s largest low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) delivered its first government-procured vaccine shipment from Beijing on Thursday, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH).
CEB flight 5J 671 touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 7:18 a.m.
The airline noted that continuous arrival of vaccines underpins the Philippine government’s commitment to curb the cases of Covid-19 in the country as it paves the path to herd immunity.
“Our number one priority is to get the country back on track, and we are doing all we can to secure millions of vaccines from various sources all over the world. Collaborating with airlines in this endeavor is of utmost importance—the sooner we secure the vaccines and the faster these are distributed, the quicker we can finally get past this pandemic,” said Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force against Covid-19.
“We remain optimistic about the Philippines’s vaccine program and look forward to working even more closely with Cebu Pacific and our other Philippine carriers for future vaccine shipments.”
“This delivery marks our first international vaccine shipment and we are grateful for the trust and confidence of the DOH. More importantly, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our country’s recovery efforts in every way possible,” said Michael Ivan Shau, CEB Chief Operations Officer.
These vaccines, carried via a chartered A330 flight, were immediately released to the DOH upon arrival at the NAIA.
The vaccines are expected to be strategically distributed to various Philippine provinces in the coming days, which CEB can fully support through its widest domestic network.
To date, Cebu Pacific has already transported more than 760,000 doses of vaccines, approximately 264,000 of which were delivered to 6 key cities in the Philippines—Bacolod, Cotabato, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.
Vaccines via SkyJet
SkyJet Airlines became the fourth airline authorized to deliver vaccines across the archipelago, after it was granted authority by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The other three are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. “SkyJet Airlines is glad to announce that we have secured our authorization today [April 28] from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to airlift Covid-19 vaccines across the country,” said Engr. Jose Amado E. Hofileña, Director-Logistics/Vaccine Air Transport at SkyJet Airlines.
Utilizing the British Aerospace BAe 146-200 cargo aircraft, the plane has the capability to land on big and small airports.
“We target to transport vaccine to Masbate, Basco, Siargao, Catanduanes, Romblon, Catarman, Calbayog, Busuanga, San Jose, Mindoro, Tawi Tawi, Jolo,” Hofileña said.
Last year, SkyJet supported the government by mounting flights to General Santos, Davao and Iloilo for locally stranded individuals.
“With this vaccine transportation requirement, we are always ready to serve our fellow countrymen in healing our nation,” Hofileña added.
Image courtesy of Contributed Photo
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