Ambassador Nicolas Galey of France with local officials in Barangay Alion, Mariveles. Photo by Ernie Esconde
MARIVELES, Bataan — The government of France through the French Development Agency has extended two million euros to boost research on coronavirus disease, the French envoy said here Friday.
French Ambassador Nicolas Galey said the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is one of the beneficiaries of the grant.
He said that the French government is focused on research on Covid-19.
“There is an effort that is made on the research. There is a famous medical institute in France, Institute Pasteur. They have branches in many countries in Southeast Asia (such as) Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam,” Galey said.
He said his government is more on supporting researchers in the Philippines and Southeast Asia in general to fight the deadly virus.
Asked why he was in Bataan, Galey answered in jest “because of the women” that elicited laughter. “We are happy to meet friends and taste the good food here,” he said.
The ambassador was with his daughter and wife in Alion, an upland barangay in this town.
They were met by Gov. Albert Garcia, Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda, and Alion barangay chairman Al Balan with officers of the village council.
Balan was known for preparing and rationing different foods for meals and merienda of his constituents during the pandemic.
Galey was even one of the donors in the food rationing in the village.
“Siyempre natutuwa kami, imagine napakaliit na barangay sa buong Bataan, kami ay napuntahan ng isang ambassador kaya kami ni governor ay tuwang-tuwa sa pagbisita niya,” Balan said.
