PASAY CITY -- The first batch of Sinopharm vaccines produced by the Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd. consisting of 739,200 doses arrived in Manila on Friday, August 20.

The donated vaccines are part of China's continuing support to the Philippines' national vaccination program.

The delivery is in partial fulfillment of the total one million Sinopharm doses China had committed to donate to the Philippines.

The remaining 260,800 doses are expected to arrive on Saturday morning, August 21.

The Sinopharm vaccines have already received an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization, as well as an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.

During an interview after the arrival, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the vaccines will be deployed to the NCR, Region 4-A, Region 3, and other areas that are experiencing spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, speaking via video teleconference, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its continuing to support the country’s fight against the deadly virus.

“My deepest gratitude goes to China for the various COVID-19 assistance extended in the past, including the donation of vital medical supplies and equipment and the provision for technical support of COVID-19 response,” President Duterte said.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said China is delivering nearly 10 million doses to the country this month.

These are mostly procured by the Philippine government.

“The total number of China’s vaccine deliveries to the Philippines is expected to reach nearly 30 million doses by the end of this month,” Xilian said.

“We sincerely hope these vaccines would alleviate the shortage of vaccines and save more lives from the virus,” he added.

As of August 20, a total of 47,262,090 COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in the country.

Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, NTF special adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa, and Department of Health Director Ariel Valencia also joined the event in receiving the Sinopharm vaccines. (National Task Force Against COVID-19)