Palace: Philippine Sinovac contract ‘binding’ but subject to conditions

Malacañang said the Philippines has a “binding obligation” concerning the possible purchase of COVID-19 vaccine doses from China’s Sinovac.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after Finance Undersecretary Mark Joven told a Senate inquiry last Friday that the term sheet signed by the Philippine government and Sinovac did not impose the obligation for the country to acquire the CoronaVac doses. 

“Hindi daw done deal ang Sinovac. Well, mali po iyan,” Roque said at a news conference.

Roque, however, clarified that Sinovac should secure the necessary regulatory approval before its vaccine can be administered in the Philippines. Sinovac applied for an emergency use authorization with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week.

“Ito ba po ay hindi kontrata? Hindi po, kontrata na po iyan. Kaya nga lang po, iyong pangalawang obligasyon, at ito po iyong talagang pagbibili, ay naka-subject po sa kundisyon na pinag-agree-han ng mga partido,” Roque said.

“Ano po itong isa sa mga kundisyon na ito? Siyempre po, iyong approval ng FDA. But that is already a binding obligation.”

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also told the Senate during the hearing on January 15 that “technically” the government had not yet purchased the Sinovac vaccine, and that the Philippines had not shelled out any money for Sinovac's product.

An initial 50,000 doses of CoronaVac will be shipped to the Philippines in February. The number will then substantially increase until the delivery of 25 million doses is completed by December.

Last Friday, Roque described the critics of the Sinovac vaccine deal as ignorant amid concerns about its efficacy and price.

Roque said the cost of the Sinovac vaccine would not exceed P700 per dose, adding China offered the vaccine at a price fit for BFFs or best friends forever.

The vaccine needs to be administered in two doses. — DVM, GMA News