Philippines will buy from any country with the cheapest vaccine against COVID-19, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised briefing on Monday.
“Kung sino lang ang mauna magbigay sa atin ng mura, dun tayo pupunta.”
[Whichever can offer it first at a cheap price, we will go for that.]
“Kung mahal masyado (If it’s too pricey), we will go to the less expensive ones,” Duterte added.
Duterte said he believes there is “no such thing” as a vaccine of inferior quality.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier reported that the government has ongoing negotiations with several vaccine manufacturers from around the globe, including US-based firms Pfizer and Moderna, as well as the Australian company CSL Limited.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also previously confirmed the country will join the Phase 3 clinical trial of Sputnik V, which will be fully funded by Russia.
A ₱10 billion standby fund for COVID-19 vaccines and testing was also made available under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan 2, set to be signed by the president into law next week at the latest.
