UPDATE 1-Philippines' Duterte wants government-to-government deal for COVID-19 vaccines

* Says government-to-government deal better to prevent
corruption
* Coronavirus curbs in Manila extended to end-November
* Country has second most COVID-19 cases, deaths in
Southeast Asia

(Adds context and detail)
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte said on Tuesday he would favour a
government-to-government deal for the purchase of coronavirus
vaccines to prevent the risk of corruption, adding that Manila
would not beg other nations for access to vaccines.
The Philippines, with its more than 108 million people and
among the highest number of COVID-19 infections in Asia, is
considered as both a suitable location for clinical trials and a
large market for global vaccine manufacturers. "Let me tell everybody that we will not beg, we will pay,"
Duterte said in a weekly televised address.
"To the Chinese government, you need not look for partners,
we can make it government-to-government."
The Philippine leader later said that while China and Russia
appeared to be ahead in the vaccine race, any country that
submitted the best offer could be chosen.
China's Sinovac Biotech SVA.O may start late-stage trials
of its vaccine in the Philippines as early as next month, with
the drugs agency evaluating its application.
Philippine authorities are also evaluating COVID-19 vaccines
of Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute and Johnson & Johnson's
Janssen for late-stage trials and in talks with drugmaker Pfizer
Inc and Moderna Inc as potential suppliers.
Australia's Vaxine Pty Ltd has also expressed interest in
holding a clinical trial.
The Philippines has initially allotted $400 million to buy
40 million doses for 20 million Filipinos, as part of Duterte's
plan to inoculate the entire population. With 371,630 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7,039 deaths, the
Philippines has the second-highest number of infections and
fatalities in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia.
Duterte also extended partially relaxed coronavirus curbs in
the capital, the country's hotspot, by another month to the end
of November. Schools remain closed while social distancing is
imposed in public places and on mass transport.

(Additional Reporting by Karen Lema
Editing by Ed Davies)