Duterte’s pitch before UNGA: COVID-19 vaccine should be made available to all

September 23, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has called on the United Nations to ensure that when a vaccine against coronavirus disease is developed, it should be made available to all, whether rich or poor countries.

In his speech during the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations early Wednesday (Manila time), Duterte noted that the world is in the race to find a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19.

"When the world finds that vaccine, access to it must not be denied nor withheld. It should be made available to all, rich and poor nations alike, as a matter of policy," he said.

"While each nation has its own strategy in fighting the pandemic, what the world needs are coordinated international plans and efforts to pursue a common purpose," he said.

"COVID-19 knows no border. It knows no nationality. It knows no race. It knows no gender. It knows no age. It knows no creed," Duterte said.

The President said the Philippines joins its partners in the ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement in raising their collective voice that COVID-19 vaccine "must be considered a global public good."

"Let us be clear on this," he said.

The President underscored the role of the United Nations in the fight against the pandemic.

"As a middle-income country whose economic advances have been derailed by the pandemic, we welcome the launch of the UN COVID Response and Recovery Fund," he said.

"Ensuring universal access to anti COVID-19 technologies and products is pivotal in the global pandemic recovery," Duterte stressed.

The President also said the world needs a World Health Health Organization that is "quick to coordinate and quicker to respond."

"We call for a global health agenda with enough resources and policy space for the World Health Organization," he said.

He vowed that the Philippines will do its part in the pooling of global resources as he cited that the Filipino health workers are among the best.

Duterte also joined the world in extending heartfelt condolences for the families who lost their loved ones due to COVID-19.

He also hailed all the frontliners who put their lives on the line even in countries not their own.

"So also do we honor and recognize the healthcare professionals who selflessly answered the call to combat the COVID-19 pandemic despite its virulence and unknown characteristics," he added.

Duterte said that due to the pandemic, Filipino migrant workers have been devastated as his government embarked on an "unprecedented" repatriation program.

"More than 345,000 overseas Filipino workers needed to come home then. We have brought back half and are bringing back the rest," he said.

The Filipino leader thanked the countries that have provided Filipino migrants with residence permits, access to testing, treatment and related health services in this time of pandemic.

"In these times, we need stronger cooperation in promoting and protecting the rights of migrants, regardless of their migrant status. We must all adhere to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Unless states include all migrants in their response to this pandemic, 'no one among us is safe, until everyone is safe', as the Secretary-General has said," he said.

As of September 22, there were over 31.6 million COVID-19 cases globally, with over 972,000 deaths and 23.26 million recoveries. Celerina Monte/DMS