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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 2 senators hopeful about PH's access to vaccine

2 senators hopeful about PH's access to vaccine

Published Dec 23, 2020 07:14 pm

Senators believe that the Philippines could still acquire early batches of COVID-19 vaccines despite President Duterte saying that the country is not rich enough and has "no clout" to be prioritized in the deals with pharmaceutical firms.

Sen. Joel Villanueva and Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto

Senator Joel Villanueva in a text message said the Philippines' neighbors in the region "are managing to secure the best vaccines under negotiated terms."

"Naniniwala pa rin ako sa kakayahan nating mga Pinoy (I still believe in the capability of Filipinos). Huwag sana nating maliitin ang sarili natin (We should not belittle ourselves)," he added.

Villanueva said the country should also back global calls for equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. "We have to support this movement," he appealed.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto was also quoted as saying that the Philippines will be able to immediately procure COVID-19 vaccines.

"We are 31 at biggest economy in the world. We can and should act faster," Recto told radio DWIZ.

President Duterte said in his televised address Monday night that the Philippines is playing second fiddle in the procurement coronavirus vaccines unlike wealthy nations that have secured their supplies first.

"We seem to be a second fiddle in these negotiations for the acquisition of vaccine...It’s because ‘yong mga mayaman na doon pa ginagawa sa kanila ang vaccine, kagaya ng Pfizer, uunahin talaga ang Amerika (It’s because the rich nations where the vaccines are made, like those made by Pfizer, they will prioritize America),” Duterte explained.

This, he said, explains the earlier statements of National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez about the delays in the procurement due to limited supply.

"We do not have the clout because we are not a rich nation,” he added.

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was criticized for supposedly dropping the ball in the purchase of first batch of Pfizer vaccines -- a claim he already denied.

Officials said negotiations with Pfizer are still ongoing.

Duterte, however, said it remains unknown when Pfizer could have vaccine supplies that can be made available to the Philippines.

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