Locsin confident PH won’t be left behind in access to COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Philippines would not be left behind in receiving vaccines for a possible cure of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

During a hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole, Sen. Francis Tolentino asked the country’s top diplomat if any representative of the country had joined the 73rd World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Tolentino also asked Locsin if the Philippines was among the other countries who had called for a “people’s vaccine” which should be made available for all.

Locsin then answered yes. Then added that the focus of the DFA during the COVID-19 pandemic was the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers and the expatriation of foreign nationals stranded in the country.

The DFA chief further said that foreign embassies expressed gratitude to the Philippines for helping them during the crisis.

“Because of that we have garnered a tremendous amount of goodwill and I know that if any developments will take place abroad, we will be helped to the fullest extent because we did our part when it was our obligation,” Locsin said.

He then expressed confidence that should any country finally find a vaccine for the respiratory illness, the Philippines would not be left behind in getting the vaccine.

“So when it comes to the discovery of a cure, I know we will not be left behind. Whichever country ever region in the world discovers it because we did our part,” Locsin said.

“And we did it not for any selfish motive, we did it because you never leave strangers in a strange land stranded,” he added.

The COVID-19 crisis, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, has infected 5 million worldwide, where 325,679 have already died.

Meanwhile, more than 13,000 have been afflicted with the disease in the Philippines.

/atm