MANILA – China has promised to donate half a million doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to the Philippines, Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.
According to Locsin, China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the commitment during their bilateral meeting last Saturday.
The donation of COVID-19 vaccine is “in keeping with” the earlier pledge made by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who said the Philippines will be prioritized once a vaccine developed by China becomes available, Locsin added.
“There is a need for the two countries to plan how we can work together throughout the year to resolve the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wang remarked during his meeting with Locsin.
“In our discussion today, we will also share with you my old friend, China’s stocks and announcements of China’s decision regarding vaccine cooperation,” he added.
The government is looking at procuring 25 million doses of Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine. It is also expecting a February rollout for the first 50,000 doses.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the doses that will come from China are already part of the 23 million vaccines the country is procuring in total.
“Kasama na ‘yan doon sa bulto ng 23 million. So ibig sabihin lang hindi na natin kailangan bayaran ‘yung 500,000 doon sa 23 million na in-order natin. 22,500,000 na lang ang babayaran natin,” Roque said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday.
“Doon sa kasunduan ay hindi naka-specify, pero kung ano ‘yung maaprubahan na sa lalong mabilis na panahon ng EUA, dahil pareho namang state-owned ang Sinopharm and Sinovac,” he added./PN
