MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should start producing its own health supplies — such as face masks and personal protective equipment, and even a COVID-19 vaccine — instead of relying on China, whose products are “defective,” the Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and Environment said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“Pinoy Aksyon is worried about China-developed vaccine amid the proliferation of defective face masks and PPEs in the Philippine market,” the watchdog group said.
The group pointed out that just last July the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized around P250 million worth of defective personal protective equipment, face masks, and other medical supplies from China.
“It turns out that defective China-made face masks initially circulating in Taiwan have found its way to the Philippine market,” the group said.
Pinoy Aksyon also urged the government to support local research on COVID-19.
/atm