Duterte willing to visit US to thank for vaccine donations

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed willingness to visit the United States to personally thank the American government and its people for their COVID-19 vaccine donations.

The US has facilitated the delivery of over 16 million vaccine doses to the Philippines via COVAX, with more than 9 million doses donated by the American people.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the President is "interested" to travel to the US to personally express his gratitude to US President Joe Biden and the American people for their donations of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

This pronouncement came as Galvez welcomed the delivery of 889,200 doses of Pfizer vaccines which were donated by the US government.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque previously stated that the US government's COVID-19 vaccine donation was a factor in the decision to maintain the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Duterte had previously stated in December 2016 that his US visa application was denied.