President Rodrigo Roa Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a tele-summit yesterday and discussed facilitating the delivery of 20 million doses of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia.
According to Presidential Protocol Chief and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Robert Borje, this online conference is part of the efforts to strengthen the two nations’ cooperation in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Napagkasunduan ng dalawang Pangulo na i-ramp up ang kanilang cooperation para masiguro na ma-produce ang mga doses na kailangan ng Pilipinas, at maihatid ito sa lalong madaling panahon [The two presidents agreed to ramp up their cooperation to ensure that the doses needed by the Philippines will be produced and delivered at the soonest time possible],” Borje shared.
Earlier, Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. revealed that the supply agreement for Sputnik V will be signed anytime this week. This will be a big help in strengthening the National Vaccination Program.
Sec. Galvez said in a Palace briefing yesterday, “This coming two to three days ay mapipirmahan na po natin… Very ano po, very affordable po ang price. Nakikita po nasa ano siya, iyong tinatawag po natin na majority ng mga vaccine po natin ay nasa within 10 to 12 dollars po. [We will be signing (the agreement) in the coming two to three days… The price is very affordable. We can see that it is very affordable and well within the 10 to 12 dollars (price range)].”
Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, Usec. Borje disclosed that Pres. Duterte and his Russian counterpart discussed other matters.
“Pinag-usapan din nila ang overall relationship between the Philippines and Russia. Sa taon kasing ito, 45th anniversary ng ating relationship. So pinag-usapan kung paano pa mas mapaigting ang ating kooperasyon [They also talked about the overall relationship between the Philippines and Russia. This year is the 45th anniversary of our relationship. So they tackled how to strengthen cooperation], not just in public health but also in political security and cooperation in defense, trade and investment, scientific exchange, and even in agriculture and energy development,” Borje said.
The two chief executives met in 2017 and 2019, and both extended invitations to visit each other’s country again.
“Winelcome naman ito ni Pangulong Putin. Nagbigay rin uli ng imbitasyon si Pangulong Putin para kay Pangulong Duterte. May mga events doon na ipinahayag ni Pangulong Putin at pinag-aaralan din ni Pangulong Duterte, pero siyempre dahil pandemiya nga, ito’y pag-aaralan nang mabuti at masusi itong titingnan kung at this time, it’s appropriate or not,” Borje said.
[Pres. Putin welcomed the invitation and returned the favor to Pres. Duterte. Pres. Putin mentioned some events which Pres. Duterte is carefully considering. Given the pandemic, the latter is giving serious thought on whether it’s appropriate or not at this time]. -Report by Mela Lesmoras, JBB-jlo
