By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: PCOO-OPS

Malacañang on Monday refused to disclose the price of the donated 600,000 Sinovac coronavirus vaccine doses by the Chinese government, saying it is “unquantifiable in pesos and cents.”

In a press briefing at the Philippine General Hospital, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque highlighted the importance of the arrival of vaccines in the Philippines instead of debating the cost procured by the government.

“Alam niyo po, I think yung dumating na 600,000 [vaccines], hindi po talaga pupwede ma-quantify in money terms,” Roque said.

“Beyond pesos and cents, tingin ko po yung pagdating ng mga bakuna kahapon gives all Filipinos hope na matatapos na ito. It goes beyond kung magkano man per vial iyan dahil ang importante po ngayon, alam ng Pilipino, matatapos na rin itong paghihinagpis at pagdurusa natin sa Covid-19 at meron na tayong bagong pag-asa,” Roque added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday personally witnessed the arrival of the vaccine doses as “debt of gratitude.”

The country began the inoculation program on Monday in COVID-19 referral hospital using the donated Chinese vaccines.


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