In his weekly address detailing the country’s pandemic response, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed that he would implore Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping if the Philippines could purchase their COVID-19 vaccines by installment.
“If it is quite expensive, I will ask my friends President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us a credit, parang utang (like a debt). But we will pay in installments,” said Duterte.
The president also extended his gratitude to Russia and China for offering Philippines a supply of their vaccines.
“I would like to thank Russia, President Putin and China, President Xi Jinping for offering to provide us the vaccine. I cannot overemphasize my gratitude.”
Just last week, Russia announced that it has already developed the “world’s first” COVID-19 vaccine, despite the drug not having finished the last phase of its development.
Philippines will be joining its Phase 3 trial in October after talks with Russia went well.
Earlier this year, China gave its word that the country is in the priority list once its own-produced vaccine will be cleared for public use.
Duterte stressed that he will not be getting the vaccines for free.
“Remember, this is not for free. After all, they did not develop the vaccine without great expense and of course the human effort involved,” he said.
“Basta sinasabi ko magbayad tayo, hindi ito libre (I’m telling you that we will pay, these are not free).”
Duterte said before that he is expecting that a vaccine will be already available by December, but the Department of Science and Technology suggested that the potential cure against the virus might not be available until the middle of 2021.
