Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) — President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer physically grace any welcoming ceremony for other vaccines that will be shipped to the Philippines, Malacañang bared on Monday.
In his briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is assuming that a steady vaccine supply for the country is already underway.
“Inaasahan naman niyang sunud-sunod na yung pagdating. Kumbaga it’s a matter of course na marami nang darating as supplies ease up worldwide,” Roque said.
[Translation: He is expecting that vaccines will start coming in. And it’s a matter of course that more will come as supplies ease up worldwide.]
He added: “Hindi na siya pupunta physically sa airport para salubungin yung ibang bakuna.”
[Translation: He will not go to the airport physically anymore to welcome the other vaccines.]
Duterte was last seen personally welcoming the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines worth ₱700 million from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech on March 29. It was the first batch of vaccines purchased by the administration.
He also welcomed the arrival of the first shipment of the donated Sinovac doses last February 28, and the initial batch of vaccines from British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca on March 4.
