⁍ The Philippines is considered as both a suitable location for clinical trials and a large market for global vaccine manufacturers.

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⁍ China’s Sinovac Biotech may start late-stage trials of its vaccine in the Philippines as early as next month.

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⁍ With 371,630 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7,039 deaths, the Philippines has the second-highest number of infections and fatalities in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia.

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– Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his brutal crackdown on drug dealers and users, has another problem on his hands: coronavirus, which has killed 7,039 people and sickened 371,630 over the past two years, per the World Health Organization. In an effort to curb the spread of the virus, which is believed to have originated in the Middle East, Duterte says he will sign a deal with a foreign government to buy vaccines, reports Reuters. “Let me tell everybody that we will not beg, we will pay,” he said Tuesday. “To the Chinese government, you need not look for partners, we can make it government-to-government.” China and Russia are believed to be in the lead for the vaccine deal, but any country that submits the best offer will be chosen, Duterte says. The Philippines has set aside $400 million for the purchase of 40 million doses of the vaccine, which will be given to 20 million people as part of Duterte’s plan to inoculate the entire population, reports the Wall Street Journal.