MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will give a P10 million reward to the person who will discover a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Malacañang said Tuesday.
“Unang una, dahil nga po public enemy po itong COVID-19 hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo, inanunsyo po ng Pangulo na siya ay magbibigay ng pabuya na hanggang P10 milyong piso sa kahit sinong Pilipino na makakadiskubre ng vaccine laban sa COVID-19,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press conference.
(First of all, since COVID-19 is a public enemy not only of the Philippines but of the whole world, the President announces that he will give a P10 million reward to any Filipino who will discover a vaccine against COVID-19.)
A “substantial grant” will also be given to the University of the Philippines (UP) and the UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to help them develop a vaccine against the respiratory disease, Roque said. He did not indicate the amount of the grant.
“Pinapanunsyo din po ng ating Presidente na siya ay magbibigay ng substantial grant sa UP at sa UP PGH para po makadevelop nga ng bakuna para dito sa COVID-19,” Roque said.
(The President also wants to announce that he will give a substantial grant to UP and to UP PGH to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.)
The PGH has asked those who have recovered from COVID-19 to make blood donations for its study on the virus’ cure.
Duterte has also called on those who have survived from the respiratory disease to donate their blood which may be used in finding a cure for the respiratory disease.
Earlier, the President also said the Philippines will participate in studying a possible cure for the virus as he called for cooperation among countries in developing a vaccine.
Globally, over 2.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, with over 170,000 fatalities.
Meanwhile, the nationwide tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday is at 6,459 with 428 fatalities and 613 recoveries.