BY GENALYN D. KABILING
The Duterte government is eyeing the acquisition of P20 billion worth of coronavirus vaccine once the supplies become available in the global market.
The proposed fund allocation comes after President Duterte presented the government’s plan to prioritize the country’s poorest of the poor for the coronavirus immunization program.
In his taped public address, the President welcomed the progress in vaccine development, particularly expressing appreciation for China’s offer to prioritize the country in the access to such medicines.
Once the vaccine is available, he said the government will purchase vaccine supply and tap the military to help with the distribution.
“I promise you by the grace of God I hope by December we would be back to normal. Huwag ninyo ‘yang new normal, new normal kasi sabi ko nga noon pag-umpisa natin hintayin lang natin ‘yung vaccine (Don’t expect the new normal because I said when we started, let us just wait for the vaccine),” Duterte said.
“Hintayin lang ho ninyo by December kung makatiis kayo kasi kung lalabas din kayo, matamaan kayo, patay rin eh (Just wait by December if you can be patient. Because if you keep going out and get infection, you’ll end up dead),” he said.
Under his vaccine distribution plan, Duterte said the poor beneficiaries of the government’s subsidy program will be the first to benefit from the free medicines. The middle-income people as well as soldiers, policemen and uniformed personnel will also be entitled to the free coronavirus vaccines. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
