President Rodrigo Duterte is offering up to P10 millions as reward money for any Filipino citizen than can create or discover a vaccine against COVID-19, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing on April 21.
“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.
Roque also mentioned that the president would offer a grant to the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital to help develop a vaccine. At present, there is no vaccine and cure for the contagious disease, but some drugs are being tested worldwide to see if they can serve as possible treatment for COVID-19.
Previously, Duterte volunteered the Philippines for clinical trials of potential COVID-19 vaccines, such as Japan-made drug Avigan.
As of April 20, the disease has infected 6,459 people in the Philippines and has claimed 428 lives. 613 have recovered from COVID-19 since testing began.
Main image from Unplash.
