President Duterte is prepared to borrow money and sell government properties for the procurement of the coronavirus vaccine for Filipinos.
The President said he intends to raise funds to procure 110 million vaccines to immunize all Filipinos from the disease as he welcomed the advancement in the clinical trials of coronavirus vaccine abroad.
"As a matter of fact, I would need about 110 million para mapainom ko sa lahat para… Ang COVID nandiyan pa pero maging inutil na… they remain on the air but we are immunized already so maghintay lang kayo nang kaunti (As a matter of fact I would need about 110 million for the people. The COVID is there but it will be inutile…they remain on the air but we are immunized already so let's wait for a bit),” Duterte said during his televised remarks Tuesday.
"Para sa mga plano natin, put it something like hanggang towards the end of the year. But if there is a thing that develops which is really good for you, mauna ako --- mag-utang ako. Magpabili ako kung saan magpabili ng lupa para ipagbili ko ng --- ibili ko ng medisina (For our plans, put it something like towards the end of the year. But if there is a thing that develops which is really good, I'll be the first. I will borrow money. I will sell properties to buy medicines)," he added.
Duterte said the clinical trials for the coronavirus vaccine are in the final stages, citing progress in Russia, China, and the United States.
"Actually ang ipinangako ko sa inyo kung mayroon ng vaccine. Mayroon na, final trial. Sa Russia, binitawan na nila. I'm sure China has already one, ang Amerika (Actually I made a promise to you that if there will be a vaccine, there is one. The trials are in the final stages. In Russia, they released it. I'm sure China has already one. America also has one)," he said.
Last month, the President promised to purchase the “miracle pill” for the coronavirus and supervise its distribution to the people. He remained optimistic about the global race to find a vaccine and cure to the deadly illness.
The country has started to collaborate with foreign institutions in the country's research and development for the planned coronavirus vaccine.
Among the government partners are Sinovac Biotech Ltd., Adimmune Corporation, Academia Sinica, Chinese Academy of Science – Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, and SinoPharma–Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and Beijing Institute in the development of a potential coronavirus vaccine.