Duterte to attend UN General Assembly on Covid-19

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on November 30, 2020. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will be participating in the 31st special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic from Dec. 3 to 4 via video conference.

Duterte is expected to deliver the Philippine Statement on Dec. 3, New York time.

“The President will further amplify his call for global solidarity in addressing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” a statement from Malacañan Palace read.

He is expected to raise universal access to anti-Covid-9 technologies and products and the need for global efforts to ensure the availability of safe and effective vaccines to peoples of developing nations.

At the 75th session of the UNGA held in September this year, Duterte stressed that access to safe and effective vaccines should be made available to all, “rich and poor nations alike”.

He also said the Covid-19 vaccine “must be considered a global public good” in joining the collective voice of partners in Asean and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The Special Session is being held under Resolution 75/4 adopted by the General Assembly on Nov. 5.

It was first proposed by the NAM, where the Philippines is a member.

The Special Session aims to reaffirm the key role of the United Nations in maintaining global order especially in the face of an unprecedented global public health crisis.

According to its website, the Special Session will allow many stakeholders to share their experiences in fighting the pandemic, reflect on the global response to date, and forge a united, coordinated, and people-centered path forward.

The first day of the special session on Dec. 3, consisting of an opening segment followed by a general debate will focus on the experiences of Member States.

The interactive dialogue on Dec. 4, will entail a series of moderated panels covering key aspects of the impact of, and response to, the Covid-19 pandemic, including the UN system’s health and humanitarian response to date; the road to a Covid-19 vaccine; and the socio-economic impact and recovering better.