MANILA, Philippines — Two senators backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s P10-million reward to the person who would discover a vaccine for treatment for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Senator Grace Poe said that the move “is a clear shoutout to the Filipino excellence and ingenuity in this time of crisis.”
“More than this, it is a call to the Filipinos’ innate good nature and sense of humanity to create a cure that can be a game-changer in the history of medicine to bring hope and normalcy to our daily lives,” Poe said in a statement.
Although Senate President Pro Temper Ralph Recto is welcoming the move, the senator said it would better to gather experts to develop a vaccine.
“It’s okay to have a reward. But I would prefer getting our scientists together to develop a better COVID rapid test kit and a vaccine and to be part of a global effort in doing the same,” Recto said in a text message.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced the reward on Tuesday morning.
“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,” Roque said.
(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.)
As of April 20, there are 6,459 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll reaching 428.