Duterte warns US it will end VFA unless at least 20 million COVID-19 vaccines are delivered

December 27, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte warned it will end the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if America will fail  to deliver at least 20 million COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines.

"Do not believe...  that America delivering immediately. They were not able to deliver it to their area..If America wants to help, you deliver stop talking. Qhat we need is the vaccine not your... speeches," Duterte said in a televised meeting between the government and infectious disease experts Saturday night.

"The VFA will end if I will not agree. They have to leave, if they fail to deliver at least a minimum of 20 million vaccines. They better get out," he added.

On Nov. 11, the Philippine government decided to extend for another six months the suspension of abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the vaccine deals with Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies will be signed by January next year.

"We are already in 85 percent of the contract for (20) million for the government and 10 million for the private sector. Then another US based, India based vaccine, we might have our contract signed by January. Pfizer also by January and also Moderna we also have initial arrangement for 20 million doses,'' said Galvez.

''So all in all,  if we get Novavax, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and also Moderna, we might have more or less 80 million doses," he said.

Galvez said just recently (Gamaleya) of Russia also negotiated for 25 million vaccines while negotiations with Sinovac are ongoing. Robina Asido/DMS