BY ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
President Duterte has allowed the government to release the advance payments for COVID-19 vaccines, Malacanang announced Thursday.
Duterte made the move two months after slamming the western pharmaceutical companies for seeking advance payments for the vaccines against the dreaded respiratory disease.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement following reports that the vaccine being developed by Pfizer is 95 percent effective against the COVID-19.
In his Thursday presser, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte did not want the country to be left behind.
“Medyo pumayag na po tayo na magkakaroon po tayo ng advance,” he said.
“Kasi ‘pag hindi po tayo pumayag, eh baka mangulelat tayo sa mga bansa na makakakuha ng vaccine,” he added.
According to Roque, the President changed his mind about rejecting companies that seek advance payments after seeing the list of countries that paid in advance.
“Alam ko po noong una ayaw ni Presidente ‘yan pero noong nakuha po niya yung listahan ng mga bansang nag-a-advance payment, hindi naman tayo magpapahuli,” he said.
The Palace official reiterated that the government will make the advance payments as long as there are funds for it because the country needs the vaccine.
“Basta meron naman tayong pondo, kung kinakailangan ibenta ang mga ari-arian ng gobyerno, gagawin niya ‘yan,” Roque said.
“Pero dahil nga importanteng masiguro na meron tayong bakuna, pumayag na po siya noong mga tinatawag na advance payments,” he added.
In September this year, President Duterte said he will not spend a single peso to pay a “reservation fee” to pharmaceutical companies that have yet to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, saying it is against the country’s procurement laws.
President Duterte said such companies are not welcome in the Philippines because they are just looking for someone who will finance their research and development activities.
