Duterte in final state address thanks China again for helping Philippines fight pandemic

During his sixth and final State of the Nation Address, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte thanked China for being the first country to help the Philippines fight the COVID-19.

"When the pandemic struck, the first country I called for help is China," Dutertetold the joint session of Congress in his nearly three-hour SONA speech on July 26.

He recalled contacting Chinese President Xi Jinping and asked for vaccines as the Philippines hasn't developed its own vaccines. Duterte said Xi agreed to help and China donated 1.5 million vaccines to the Philippines.

In late February, a donated batch of the vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac became the first COVID-19 shot to reach the country.

Duterte said that he was elected in 2016 based on a campaign promise that he will end criminality, corruption and proliferation of illegal drugs. He never expected that his presidency will also be judged on his handling of the pandemic. The situation has been made worse by the recent entry of the more infectious Delta variant in the country.

"Health and safety protocols have helped stop spread of COVID-19, but best solution is still vaccination," Duterte said.

He then appealed to all Filipinos "to get vaccinated now. And for those who received their first doses, please return for your second shot."

The Philippines is banking on the vaccination program to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.On July 22, health workers administered record-high 472,356 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Philippine Department of Health.

Duterte said the Philippines may have to go through another lockdown again if the Delta variant will lead to another surge in COVID-19 cases.

Duterte recognized how the pandemic has hurt the Philippine economy – which used to be one of the fastest growing economies prior to the pandemic. He said the government is working with business associations to create over 1 million jobs to help those who lost their livelihood.

"I would like to renew my call to Congress to immediately pass amendments of priority legislative measures such as the foreign investment acts, the public service act and retail and trade liberalization act."

Duterte is also calling for the creation of agencies dedicated to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. He has asked Congress to enact a law creating the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines.

Nicholas Antonio Mapa, senior economist at Dutch investment bank said with the Philippine economy still in recession and momentum fading fast, "I was hoping to see some emphasis on getting the economy up and running again and back to her former glory".

But Mapa welcomed the push for additional vital legislation that will help open up the economy to foreign investment, noting that "righting the economic ship requires attention on both short and medium term objectives".

The president in his address also highlighted his independent foreign policy as one of the hallmarks of his presidency.

Duterte said that the Philippines under his stewardship has "vigorously pursued an independent foreign policy centered on the promotion and protection of core national interests".

He said the Philippines "will continue to work with all nations and seek partnerships that work".

Duterte likewise thanked fellow member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for "supporting my government, my country, and my people when it truly matters. I assure you the Philippines will remain a responsible member of the international community".

But Duterte said that the Philippine government will always "fight for what is rightfully due to the Filipino people", noting that the country's foreign policy is no longer anchored behind the "shadows of the great powers of the world".

He recalled that in 2019, he ordered the return of illicit waste to Canada, citing that the Philippines is not a dumping ground. Duterte also snubbed an invitation from then US President Donald Trump because the US government refused to return the iconic church bells that the American soldiers carted off during the Philippines-American war in 1899-1902.

This is the second time that Duterte delivered the SONA in a hybrid format as the Southeast Asian country continues to battle COVID-19. Less than 500 officials and dignitaries were allowed to be physically present at the BatasangPambansa (National Assembly) Complex. The rest of the officials, lawmakers, diplomats, and other guests attended SONA 2021 virtually.