The Philippines and Russia may collaborate on the manufacture of Sputnik V, the first registered COVID-19 vaccine in the world, the Board of Investments (BOI) announced Thursday.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev revealed the proposal during his farewell courtesy call to the Department of Trade and Industry.
“Russia not only offered to supply vaccines, but they also wanted to collaborate for the manufacturing of the vaccine in the Philippines. Ambassador Igor emphasized that Russia is the only country who also offers in-country manufacturing of the vaccine,” Rodolfo said.
He added the Russians were briefed to follow all Philippine rules and regulations related to the possibility of manufacturing the vaccine in the Philippines and in the conduct of joint 3rd-phase clinical trials.
Clinical trials in the Philippines were, as mentioned in the presentation, ongoing involving a few hundreds of participants aged between 18 and 60 years old.
The proposal is a three-way collaboration among the Gamaleya Center, Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Philippine government.
Angkas operations
Meanwhile, ride-hailing service provider Angkas on Thursday said it expected to resume operations soon as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) endorsed to Congress the extension of pilot testing for the motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila and other provinces.
Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said in a virtual press briefing he was hopeful they would secure the green light soon from the government for the extension of pilot testing for motorcycle taxis to resume its operations.
Royeca said transportation was essential to the reopening of the economy, given that only 40 percent of public transport was still available to meet the needs of 60 percent of the workforce now required to return to onsite locations but still anchored on safety protocols.
“Safety has always been the advocacy of Angkas as we push for inclusive transportation that is accessible to all. We continue to commit to this advocacy especially now that we are in a crisis and the people need it more than ever,” Royeca said.
Pilot run
The pilot run for the motorcycle taxis expired last March 23 this year.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier allowed Angkas, Joyride and Move It to participate in the pilot test for motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.
The government imposed a cap of 63,000 bikers for the three players—45,000 bikers in Metro Manila, 9,000 in Cebu and another 9,000 in Cagayan de Oro.
Angkas has 23,164 bikers in Metro Manila, 4,500 in Metro Cebu and 925 in Cagayan De Oro, while Joyride has 15,000 in Metro Manila, 4,488 in Metro Cebu and 198 in Cagayan de Oro.
Move It, meanwhile, has 6,836 in Metro Manila with no operations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.
Doctor faces raps
In a related development, a government doctor is facing a criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for the death of a 47-year-old health-care who succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Mary Joie Cruz, accompanied by her lawyer, Ansheline Bacudio, filed the complaint against the Cainta Municipal Hospital chief — Dr. Antonio Jayson Sierra — for gross neglect of duty and Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Officer and Employee for his supposed negligence that caused the death of her mother, Maria Theresa Cruz.
She alleged Sierra refused to conduct COVID-19 tests on his staff despite having been exposed to COVID-19 positive patients.
She vowed to seek justice for her mother, saying “we will be served justice once Dr. Sierra gets the punishment he deserves.” Maria Theresa was a nurse from the Cainta Municipal Hospital.