MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte desires to travel to the United States to personally thank the American government for donating Covid-19 vaccines.
Duterte announced in a pre-recorded public speech that the Philippines will receive an additional 5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Kasasabi lang ni Secretary Galvez at Secretary Duque na ang America nagbigay ng bago, 5 million [doses] (Secretary [Carlito] Galvez and Secretary [Francisco] Duque just informed me that America is giving us new doses, 5 million doses),” he said.
The brand of the vaccine was not mentioned.
“Ang bait ng America. Baka pupunta ako doon (America is so generous. I might go there) just to thank the American government and the people,” he added.
Based on the government data, Duterte said the country had received more than 71 million Covid-19 vaccine shots.
Around 46 million doses were purchased by the government, 16 million doses were distributed via the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility, 5 million doses were purchased by local government units, and about 3.6 million doses were given by other countries.
The Philippines has administered more than 45 million Covid-19 vaccines doses, of which over 21 million are fully vaccinated.
Duterte said in his final State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) in July that he would not visit the US, one of the country’s oldest allies.
“I have not been to America, almost 10 years, 22 years, I have not visited America and I do not have any intention of visiting anymore,” Duterte said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed last August that one of the reasons Duterte opted to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was because of vaccine donations from the US.
“The President considered the totality of the recent situation and thorough assessment [of the agreement] based on national interest. By considering the totality of the circumstances, there is a good possibility that it was factored in the situation,” Roque said.
