The European Union is holding the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in their region hostage, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is not as authoritative in securing coronavirus vaccines, said President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday.
According to Duterte, the EU is obstructing the export of AstraZeneca vaccines formulated in the United Kingdom before the company fulfills its obligations in the EU.
Duterte said in his weekly address with Cabinet members, “eh ‘yung AstraZeneca hinostage ng European Union. Iyong ating ASEAN it is not that powerful to have a clout sa mga ganitong ginagawa ngayon. Wala nga eh. Walang supply.”
Philippine Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. agreed with President Duterte, but he also claimed that the Philippines will not be affected by “politics” since the country’s supply of AstraZeneca vaccines will be manufactured in Thailand and at the Serum Institute of India.
Duterte also admits that the Philippines’ “greatest disadvantage” is that the country cannot compete with other nations that offer to pay higher prices for the vaccines.
“Labanan ito ngayon sa highest bidder nga. Kung sino ‘yung makabayad ng una, mag-deposito na, tapos lalo na kung ‘yung bansa na ‘yon ang humihingi ng supply ng vaccine is the country where the factory is located, nauuna talaga sa kanila,” he said.
