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President Rodrigo Duterte promised to purchase Covid-19 vaccines made in China and Russia while attacking Western pharmaceutical companies asking for up-front payment for their vaccine research and development efforts.
In his public address Monday night, Duterte claimed that pharmaceutical companies have been asking for a “reserve fee” to ensure the Philippines will receive a supply of its vaccine once it is commercially available.
“In other countries, they want a cash advance before we deliver the vaccine (before they deliver). In that case, we are all dead (if that’s the case, we are dead), ”Duterte said.
The president said that even if these pharmaceutical companies he declined to name were in the advanced stage of clinical trials, he would not be able to pay the reservation fee because it was against Philippine law.
He noted that the country’s procurement law prohibits the government from buying products that are not yet on the market or that have not yet been produced.
“There is nothing with a purpose, and you want us to make a reservation by depositing money? You must be crazy, ”said the president.
“The Philippine procurement law does not allow you to buy something that does not yet exist or is about to be produced. It is a very demanding law and you should always take into account, you know, prosecution and jail, “he added, in relation to the Republic Law 9184 or the” Public Procurement Reform Law. “
Duterte said those companies were not welcome in the Philippines because they wanted others to fund their research and development.
“Better get out of this country, we don’t need you,” he added.
Duterte said he preferred vaccines from China and Russia, noting their “generosity” towards the Philippines when “there was nothing in sight” during the onset of the pandemic.
“If the vaccine from Russia and China is equally good and effective, like any other vaccine invented by any country, I will buy first,” Duterte said.
“Noong naghirap tayo (when we were going through a difficult time), the only countries that offered to help and said, ‘Don’t worry when we invent one, we’ll give you’ was Russia [and] then China, “he added.
“Kaya sabi ko we will give preference to Russia and China as long as their vaccine is as good as any other on the market,” he said.
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