Malacañang assured the public that the government did not purchase one of the most expensive COVID-19 vaccines in the world, saying the vaccine of China's Sinovac is only around P650 per dose.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement following reports that the Sinovac vaccine costs P3,600 for two doses.
In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB, Roque said that while the government is bound by a non-disclosure agreement, the public can be sure that the Sinovac vaccine is not as expensive as they think it is.
"Fake news 'yung kumakalat na P3,600 per dose daw ang singil ng China (Reports that China has set the price for P3,600 per dose is fake news)," he said Sunday.
"Bagamat hindi pa puwedeng i-anunsiyo talaga kung ano talaga ang presyo ng Sinovac ay hindi lalayo sa presyo ng Indonesia na bandang P650 kada turok (While we cannot announce the price of the Sinovac vaccine, it is not far off from the Indonesian price of P650 per dose)," he added.
Roque said that China, which is not market dictated, does not want other countries to know the price it offered the Philippines for its vaccines since other countries may complain.
"Ang presyo ng Tsina puwede nilang baguhin. Wala silang pakialam, depende kung sino ang bibili (China can change the price of its items depending on who is buying)," he said.
"Yun ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw ipa-anunsiyo mismo ng Tsina kasi nga baka magalit 'yung hindi nila masyadong BFF na alam nilang bumili nang mas mahal (That's why China does not want it to be announced because the countries which they are not that close with may get mad because they bought the vaccines at a relatively higher price)," he added.
Roque said last week that the Sinovac vaccine was given to the Philippines by China at a "BFF" (best friends forever) price.
The Philippines has procured 25 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine. The first batch is set to arrive next month.
On Saturday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China is planning to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.