Gov’t ready to buy vaccines from Russia, China once available; to pay by installments if costly – Duterte

August 18, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has assured that the government is ready to purchase vaccines against coronavirus disease from Russia and China once they are available but to be paid by installments if they are expensive.

In a televised message late Monday night, Duterte again thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for their offers to provide vaccines to the Philippines as soon as they are ready for distribution to the public.

"I cannot overemphasize my debt of gratitude. But remember that this is not for free for after all they did not develop the vaccine without great expense and also the human effort involved," he said.

Duterte said the government will buy the vaccines.

"But if it is quite expensive, then I will ask my friend President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us credit, a credit line but we will pay not in one payment but by installments," he said.

Duterte noted that all economies have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All have economic hemorrhage. It is uncontrollable because people cannot really work. They cannot be productive. And so you have a problem at hand," he added.

Some Chinese companies developing their own vaccine for COVID-19 have been on the third stage of the trial.

Russia, on the other hand, claimed that it was the first to develop a vaccine, which it called as Sputnik V, but still subject to third stage of clinical trial.

The government earlier said it is planning to buy vaccine to be administered free for 20 million poorest Filipinos, as well as vulnerable sectors and frontliners, once it is available. Celerina Monte/DMS