MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has increased the reward money for the discovery of a vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“I’m raising the bounty to P50 million. I want to motivate the bright Filipino scientists and doctors to find a way on how to combat the disease,” the Chief Executive said in his recorded public address on Friday.
Duterte initially offered up to P10 million in reward money to any Filipino who can discover a vaccine against COVID-19.
He also said that the reward could even reach P100 million if the discovery of a cure for Covid-19 makes him “happy.”
“Baka sa ligaya ko, another P50 million. Kapag nandiyan na, kung maligaya ako masyado, eh di P100 million. Puro kayo milyonaryo. Huwag kayong mahiyang tanggapin,” he said.
The President has earlier said the Philippines is ready to join other countries in conducting clinical trials of Avigan, a Japanese anti-viral drug, for the potential treatment of COVID-19./PN
