President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday that he already had money to buy COVID-19 vaccines but vowed to get more funds to immunize all Filipinos.
“Nakahanap na ako ng pera. I have the money already for the vaccine, but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera, because you know there are now 130 million Filipinos,” Duterte said in a live briefing.
(I have already found money. I already have the money for the vaccine, but I will still find a lot of money because you know there are now 130 million Filipinos.)
“And to me, ideally, all should have the vaccine, without exception. Lahat. Para meron kayong lifetime, whatever, para it can provide immunity. Pang laban ho. ‘Yung body, ‘yung armor mo ‘yung sundalo mo sa katawan mo, malabanan siya,” he added.
(And to me, ideally, all should have the vaccine, without exception. All. For you have a lifetime, whatever, so it can provide immunity. Your body, your armor, your soldier in your body.)
Duterte added the poor would be given the COVID-19 vaccine first using the list from the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Duterte to find more COVID-19 vaccine funds for P130-M Filipinos
“Again, mauna ang mga mahirap na walang pera, hindi makabayad. Ang listahan ‘yung doon sa Pantawid… may listahan ‘yan. ‘Yun ang sundin. Then, pagkatapos, to the public,” the President said.
(Again, the poor, those who have no money and cannot pay, will go first. The list on Pantawid would be used. Then the public will have it.)
He said military personnel and security forces would also be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“But para walang taguan, I want my soldiers, pati ‘yung security forces ng bayan mauna rin kasabay ng first batch. Kasi kailangan ko ng mga sundalo at pulis na ready, healthy, at walang COVID,” Duterte said.
(I want my soldiers and the country’s security forces to get it first, with the first batch. Because I need soldiers and police who are ready, healthy, and without COVID.)
“They are really vital to the security of the state. For which reason they should be the first also. Tayo, kami, mga civilian, puwede tayong last [we can be last],” he added.