PH May Return To Normalcy In 2023

Duterte, Lorenzana, Duque won't take Sinovac Vaccine

- Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos

After the Philippines received its first supply of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, Filipinos may expect to return to normalcy by 2023.

President Duterte made the statement as the government rolls out its vaccination program against the disease with the arrival of 600,000 CoronaVac shots donated by the Chinese government to the Philippines on Sunday, Feb. 28.

In a press conference in Pasay City, Duterte predicted that the Philippines may return to its pre-pandemic state only by 2023.

“In about maybe early – mga year 20 – year ’23, not the ’22,” he said.

“Early in the first – maybe [the] first or second quarter of year 23, 2023, baka sa tulong ng Diyos (maybe by the grace of God),” he added.

President Duterte said the government will not dilly-dally in distributing the first batch of CoronaVac vaccines to the public. CoronaVac is manufactured by Chinese drug maker Sinovac.

“Ito ngayon hanggang katapusan ng buwan, paspasan tayo (From today until the end of the month, we will speed things up),” he said.