PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will look for funds to be able to immediately procure any vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as soon as it is available.

In a meeting with some Cabinet members Tuesday midnight, May 19, Duterte said he was hopeful that the vaccine would be available by January 2021.

“Kailangan may pera ako n’yan kasi bibili kaagad tayo (We must have funds so we can immediately buy the vaccine),” the President said.

He said, however, that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has advised against procuring vaccines as soon as they become available because the price is likely going to be steep.

“Sabi nya, we’ll get a bad deal at this time. I agree, but yung akin naman, that sana kung magkawala-wala na talaga ng pera...ewan ko kung saan magkuha pa. Madali na saguaro,” Duterte said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) on Tuesday said revenue collections fell short of the target in the first four months of the year.

Read: Customs falls short of target by P27B, BIR by P1B

Duterte mentioned that biotech firm Moderna has claimed that its clinical trials have produced favorable results.

"Mayroon na silang tests na showing positive results. Mayroon nang vaccine but ang problema, it will be ready according to them by 2021 pa. January at the very, at the earliest," he added.

In jest, the President said, “So kung ganoon, huwag ka sanang mamatay hanggang January. Hintayin mo iyong vaccine.” (Don’t die until January. Wait for the vaccine.)

Meanwhile, he reminded parents to have their children vaccinated against other diseases.

“Lahat kayong mga nanay, pati tatay, see to it that your children are vaccinated,” Duterte said. (SunStar Philippines)