The renewed tension in the overlapping maritime territorial claims of countries surrounding the entire stretch of South China Sea have brought into the picture again the 1957 Mutual Defense Treaty of the Philippines with the United States.

A shipment of 193,000 coronavirus vaccines developed by American drugmaker Pfizer is expected to arrive in the Philippines on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed. 

Health authorities on Saturday reported 6,979 additional COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,094,849.

The government needs another P20 billion to fund COVID-19 vaccine procurement this year and P90 billion for next year, officials leading the pandemic response told senators Thursday night. 

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department cannot recommend mixing vaccine brands due to lack of sufficient evidence to support it.