MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Now we know why the Duterte government has chosen to purchase the Chinese vaccine Sinovac. The country stands to earn P7,250 for every 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine it buys from China.

ABS-CBN is reporting that Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez said that purchasing Sinovac through the COVAX facility would decrease the price of the vaccine by as much as 300%.

The estimated cost of Sinovac is P3,629.50 per two doses (according to figures released by Senator Sonny Angara’s office). A 100% decrease in price would make the vaccine free. Therefore a 300% decrease would mean the makers of Sinovac would owe the Philippines P7,259 for each two-doses of the vaccine.

Kudos to Secretary Galvez. What a great deal!