By Genalyn Kabiling President Duterte announced Tuesday he is looking for funds to purchase the coronavirus vaccine amid hopes it will be available in the market early next year. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 19, 2020. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO The President said Moderna pharmaceutical firm has developed the vaccine that may become available by January 2021, adding that people should avoid dying until then. "I'm looking for money to --- balikan ko ulit dito kasi nag-usapan --- nag-usapan tayo ng pera na may pera ako pangbili ng (I’d like to go back since we’re talking about money, I need money to buy) vaccine just in case somebody else would beat the Moderna to the vaccine. I think China has already won. We are just waiting for the announcement," Duterte said during his televised public address Tuesday. "Kailangan may pera ako niyan kasi bili kaagad tayo (I need the money by then so we can immediately buy)," he added. He admitted that the government has limited resources since it is "short of tax collection" amid the coronavirus lockdown. The President welcomed the latest milestone in the global race for the coronavirus vaccine, citing that clinical trial of Moderna's drug yielded "positive results." He admitted that this was the "good news" he has been hoping for. "Mayroon ng vaccine but ang problema it will be ready, according to them, by 2021 pa. January at the very --- at the earliest. So kung ganoon ‘wag ka sanang mamatay hanggang January, hintayin mo ‘yung vaccine (There is a vaccine ut the problem is it will be ready, according to them, by 2021. January at the very earliest. So just don't die until January. Wait for the vaccine)," he said. "‘Pag tinawag ka ng kamatayan sabihin mo, p

* i** ka umalis ka diyan kay may hinihintay ako na vaccine. Hindi ko pa panahon mamatay' (If death calls you, tell him 'Son of a b*tch, go away because I'm waiting for a vaccine. It's not yet time for me to die')," he said. Duterte also cited that many countries are "on the 'verge" of developing the drugs or vaccines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus disease. "Judging from the COVID started up to now, I'm sure they made a lot of progress in finding the vaccine," he said.   "Basta may vaccine, puwede na tayo makahiram (When a vaccine is found, we can borrow)," the President said. While waiting for the coronavirus vaccine, the President has appealed anew to the public to follow the government's quarantine regulations to contain the spread of the disease. He reminded people to wear face masks whenever they leave their homes as well as use alcohol to sanitize their hands. Duterte said the coronavirus will "remain with us" until a vaccine is found. "Ang kalaban ng COVID (the enemy of COVID) it’s the vaccine that can really fight the infection," he said.