The government is ready with sufficient funds for the procurement of potential coronavirus vaccines if they are available before the end of the year.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government intends to prioritize the country's 20 million poorest Filipinos once the vaccine supply is purchased and approved for distribution.
World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier said there is hope that a coronavirus vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020. The health official also reportedly called on world leaders to commit an equitable distribution of the vaccine when it becomes available.
"Naitabi na po natin ang budget para sa pagbili ng Covid-19 . Alam na natin ang mekanismo (We have set adie the budget for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine. We already know the mechanism)," Roque said over state television Wednesday.
Under the government plan, Roque said the Philippine International Trading Corp (PITC), a state firm attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will purchase the COVID-19 vaccines. The funds for the vaccine procurement will be provided by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
"Bibili po tayo ng dosage, dalawang dosage para sa 20 million na pinakahirap nating mga kababayan. Mauuna po ang mga mahihirap (We will buy two doses for 20 million poorest countrymen. The poor will be the first beneficiaries)," he said.
President Duterte earlier said the government will buy the most affordable vaccine that will be sold in the market given its limited resources. In the distribution of free vaccines, he said the country’s poor, soldiers and policemen will get the priority.
Under the Bayanihan 2 law, the government has a standby fund of P10 billion for COVID testing and procurement of medicines and vaccines.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said it has also earmarked an initial P2.4 billion from its proposed 2021 budget to purchase the COVID-19 vaccines when they become available.
Manufacture of Russian vaccine in PH eyed
As this developed, the Philippines and Russia are discussing potential manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V by Gamaleya Institute in the
country, the Department of Trade and Industry revealed.
Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez have discussed with Russian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Igor Khovaev the possibility of manufacturing and distributing Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines during the Ambassador’s farewell courtesy call Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, who is also Board of Investment managing head, said that Philippines and Russia also agreed to strengthen the ongoing Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC), which covers the areas of trade, investment, and other economic cooperation projects between the two nations.
Rodolfo said the JCTEC is slated to meet in November this year wherein “the important part of the JTEC meeting agenda is the collaboration on vaccines.”
While Rodolfo said that the discussion was still preliminary, the discussions appeared to be already gaining ground with Russia having discussed the plan through their Manila embassy with the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, President in his report to Congress on the Bayanihan 2 implementation, said the country has 17 bilateral partners and expressed interest to participate in WHO Solidarity Trial for vaccines and the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
He noted that the acceptance of donated Remdesivir drugs from WHO for the solidarity trial has also been completed.
He said three ongoing clinical trials, namely the WHO solidarity trial for treatment, virgin coconut oil, and lagundi, are ongoing. Seven others are in the process of completing approval.