Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte has no immediate scheduled meeting with fellow world leaders but the President had mentioned a possible engagement with Modi.(Photo from Presidential Photo/King Rodriguez) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — President Duterte may talk to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure more COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines, Malacañang said yesterday, as governments grapple with a tight supply of pandemic vaccines. PhilStar said that Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte has no immediate scheduled meeting with fellow world leaders but the President had mentioned a possible engagement with Modi.
“There is no immediate schedule available but the President mentioned Prime Minister Modi previously because (India) is one of the major sources of our vaccines,” Roque said in Filipino when asked about the leaders who would meet with Duterte to discuss the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Last Tuesday, Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed in a teleconference – among other topics – the need to cooperate in dealing with the pandemic especially in ramping up the production of vaccines.
The Philippines is ordering 20,000,000 doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V as part of its goal to inoculate 70 million people by year-end. Duterte was scheduled to deliver a public address last night, where he was expected to discuss details of his conversation with Putin, Roque said. During a phone conversation with Duterte last June, Modi expressed readiness to supply the Philippines with affordable COVID-19 medicines and pharmaceutical products.