Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 11)— The Philippines has “dropped the ball” again — this time on a possible discussion for an offer of millions of syringes, the country’s top diplomat said on Saturday.
“We dropped the ball again; this time offer of 50 million syringes,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. tweeted.
“Discussed the need in Washington DC and got a response prepared to go into details with (Philippine) agencies but they refused to discuss the ball let alone catch it,” he added.
Locsin gave no further details and did not name the agencies involved.
In December last year, Locsin also said “someone dropped the ball” in the country’s COVID-19 vaccine negotiations with American drug maker Pfizer. He shared that he and Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez were able to secure millions of Pfizer shots — initially set to arrive in the country by January 2021 — but plans were foiled.
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Last month, the Department of Health admitted the country faced delays in the delivery of syringes, citing an “apparent global shortage.” The World Health Organization also earlier warned of a possible shortfall of billions of syringes for coronavirus inoculations come 2022.
We dropped the ball again; this time offer of 50 million syringes. Discussed the need in Washington DC and got a response prepared to go into details with PH agencies but they refused to discuss the ball let alone catch it. First Pfizer, then Moderna. Ok, I see the pattern.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 11, 2021
