President Duterte expressed concern about a great imbalance in access to coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, saying the pandemic has become an "unforgiving race to immunity" due to the lack of bold, collaborative responses to the situation.
Duterte made the statement as he participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Retreat of Friday evening, July 16, Manila time.
In his intervention during the virtual summit, Duterte expressed concern about the situation, saying the Philippines was yet to fully contain COVID-19 as comprehensive recovery remained elusive and the people continued to suffer.
"The Philippines is concerned with the increasing North-South divide between the 'vaccine-haves' and the 'have-nots,'" he said.
"Notwithstanding our commitment to act together, we have somehow managed to turn this crisis into an unforgiving race to immunity," he added.
The President cited the imbalance in vaccine access that led developing countries to wait for the much-needed shots.
"We are aware that more than 80 percent of the COVID-19 vaccines have gone to rich countries, leaving the rest of us in the developing world so little to get by," he said.
"The great imbalance in vaccine access needs to be rectified. Vaccine nationalism must end," he added.
Duterte reiterated the Philippines' call for equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, saying global economic recovery hinged on an efficient and effective mass inoculation worldwide.
"We must strengthen collaboration in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and medical supplies. This is most urgent given the emergence of new variants," he said.
He added the APEC must do something to ensure that vaccines will reach countries all over the world.
"APEC economies must resist imposing barriers to the free flow of vaccines and related essential products," Duterte said.
"We must stabilize vaccine prices to the level that makes them more affordable to developing countries," he added.
Duterte likewise cited the need to democratize vaccine development and manufacturing.
"Let us explore the possibility of technology transfer and time-bound compulsory licensing to allow production in developing countries," he said.
"We must act with resolve and urgency and hold ourselves accountable to our own public pronouncements and policies," he added.
The President asked his fellow leaders how countries can have destructive weapons but not life-saving vaccines that can be shared with many nations.
"I say this in earnest: we must get our priorities straight. How can nations have stockpiles of weapons that can destroy us all but not have ready reserves of life-saving vaccines and medical supplies for sharing that can save us all?" he said.
"Surely it is wiser to invest in building paths to recovery rather than in roads to perdition," he added.
To date, the Philippines has reported 1,496,328 COVID-19 cases with 26,476 deaths and 1,421,372 recoveries.
The President has always lamented how the Philippines did not have enough supply of COVID-19 vaccines due to rich countries getting the bulk of the global supply.
The Philippines was able to get its hands on COVID-19 vaccines on February 28 following the donation of 600,000 doses of Sinovac shots donated by the Chinese government.
As of July 11, the country has administered 13,196,282 doses of COVID-19 vaccines with 3,526,342 completing their two shots.