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MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed dismay over the country’s overall vaccination rollout.
This is despite reaching 27 million or 35 percent full vaccination of the population as part of the government’s efforts to fight coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
With the arrival of close to 109 million doses of vaccines in the country as of November 2, Duterte said he is not contented with the manner of the jab distribution in the provinces.
“And it is now our job to get these doses in the arms of every Filipino. Kaya lang problema nito, noon sabi walang bakuna. Ngayon, ‘yung bakuna nandiyan na. May nakita kaming fault lines sa overall picture ng program ng vaccination. Eh medyo hindi ako na — medyo nakuntento,” Duterte said.
The president also reiterated his instructions to all agencies, specifically to National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to make sure that local government units (LGU) will receive their daily jab performance in order for the country to reach the target of 1 million jabs or more every day.
“I have ordered Secretary Galvez, the PNP, and the AFP to provide all the necessary support to our LGUs particularly in the delivery of vaccines and mobilization of resources,” Duterte said.
Duterte also ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to impose discipline on local government officials who are remiss in the administration of the vaccines to their constituents.
“I have also ordered Secretary [Eduardo] Año to impose the necessary sanction against LGUs and local chief executives who are not performing nor using the doses given to them in a most expeditious manner. I will hold each and every LGU accountable for this,” he said.
“Hindi ko malaman kung saan talaga nagkakamali, kung may mali, bakit mahina ang ano. Ang paglabas ng bakuna dito sa national medyo okay. Ang problema pagdating doon sa provincial, regional level, dito nagka — doon nagkakaroon ng medyo problema. So that even in the matter of deploying them to the proper sites eh mahina. So sabi ko gamitin na lang ang mga air assets ng PNP pati AFP,” the chief executive added.
Duterte also wants the proper authorities to ensure that there is a sufficient number of people who will act as vaccinators for a prompt administration of vaccines.
“Ang dapat lang pagdating doon eh talagang nandoon na ‘yung mga tao. The human resource side would be ready to do the injections. Kung sakali mangyari ito, I hope that the local governments, the mayors, would take time really to attend to this problem of delay,” he said.
The president has also ordered the direct distribution of the vaccines straight to the municipal level, therefore eliminating another gridlock. —/mbmf
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