MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines welcomes the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement, extending its congratulations to Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Secretariat, and all relevant stakeholders, for their active and constructive engagement throughout the three and a half years of negotiations, the DFA said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement represents a historic milestone for multilateralism and a reaffirmation of the collective resolve of the international community to strengthen global cooperation in health,” the DFA stated.
According to the department, the country played a “constructive and bridge-building role” in the negotiations, serving as Co-Facilitator for several articles, helping coordinate the Group for Equity composed of more than 30 Member States, and consistently advocating for fairness, inclusiveness, and the interests of developing countries in pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.
The DFA also mentioned that the Philippines also championed key provisions aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of health and care workers, who remain at the forefront of effective pandemic response.
According to the DFA, the Philippines also takes great pride in the adoption of this landmark agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly, which is being presided over by the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.
“Starting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments from all corners of the world acted with great purpose, dedication and urgency, and in doing so exercising their national sovereignty, to negotiate the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement that has been adopted today,” said Herbosa, who was quoted by the WHO official website.
“Now that the Agreement has been brought to life, we must all act with the same urgency to implement its critical elements, including systems to ensure equitable access to life-saving pandemic-related health products. As COVID was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, the WHO Pandemic Agreement offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on lessons learned from that crisis and ensure people worldwide are better protected if a future pandemic emerges,” he added.
Among the key elements of the Agreement are commitments relating to pandemic prevention and surveillance, Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS), access to pandemic-related health products, technology transfer, and research and development, the DFA explained.
In the WHO website, it stated that “governments adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement today (20 May 2025) in a plenary session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s peak decision-making body.”
“The adoption followed yesterday’s approval of the Agreement by vote (124 in favour, 0 objections, 11 abstentions) in Committee by Member State delegations,” the website stated.
“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“The Agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during COVID-19,” Ghebreyesus added.
Meanwhile, the DFA mentioned that “the work of WHO Member States will continue through the Intergovernmental Working Group to finalize the Annex on PABS before the Agreement is opened for signatures.”
“The Philippines reaffirms its steadfast commitment to contributing to this process and ensuring the development of a fair and effective agreement that will enhance global health security and promote health for all,” the DFA concluded.
