President Rodrigo R. Duterte has guaranteed that the government will strive to purchase a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine once it is available in the market.
The Chief Executive has expressed his gratitude towards China and Russia for offering the vaccine to the Philippines and may ask for an affordable payment scheme from the two countries if the price is too prohibitive.
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“I cannot overemphasize my debt of gratitude. But remember that this is not for free for after all they did not develop the vaccine without great expense and also the human effort involved. Bibilhin natin ‘yan. Kaya lang kung mahal, (We will buy it but if it is expensive) if it is quite expensive then I will ask my friend President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us a credit, parang utang (like a loan), a credit line but we will pay not in one payment but by installments.”
Report from Mela Lesmoras
