Duterte asks Filipinos to ‘endure’ coronavirus curbs until December, pins hopes on China vaccine

The Philippines recorded 4,063 new cases on Friday, bringing infections to 93,354 as lockdown restrictions extended in Metro Manila

Vice-President Leni Robredo criticised the president’s reliance on a Chinese vaccine, saying more needed to be done to stem the spread of the virus

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Health workers collect blood samples inside a jeepney bus at a free Covid-19 drive-thru testing facility in Manila. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00pm, 31 Jul 2020Updated: 9:15pm, 31 Jul 2020

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to “endure” coronavirus restrictions until December and pinned hopes on a Chinese vaccine, even as cases in his country soared towards 100,000 and lockdown restrictions in Metro Manila were extended until the middle of August.

“My plea is to endure [restrictions] some more. Many have been infected,” Duterte said during a pre-recorded address aired on Friday. “If you can endure until December … China is first [in the vaccine race].

“I promise you by the grace of God I hope by December we will be back to normal … let’s just wait for the vaccine. It’s almost here. I told you I have been praying to God for a guiding light so that these guys can make the vaccine.”

According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, 10 billion pesos (US$203 million) will be budgeted for buying the vaccine, assuming US$10 per dose, to be distributed free to 20 million poor Filipinos.

During his address Duterte said the poor and those in hospital would be among those receiving free vaccines. Priority would also be given to the police and military but drug addicts may be disqualified, he suggested.

The Philippine government has been criticised for its erratic handling of the pandemic. Duterte rebuffed those criticisms by claiming he had not developed a detailed “roadmap” because the country must wait for “races other than Filipinos” to make a medical breakthrough. He added that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin had promised to prioritise Manila in distributing a vaccine.

“That’s why I salute the Chinese,” he said, noting that Sinovac China has entered phase three of development while also mentioning other drug firms developing vaccines: Sinopharm Beijing, Pfizer in the United Kingdom and Moderna in the United States.

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