Pres. Duterte assures 4P beneficiaries and uniformed personnel as priorities in COVID-19 vaccination program

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reiterated in an aired taped public address that uniformed personnel and the poorest families in the Philippines will be prioritized in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. He said,

Ang mauuna 'yung mga taong nasa listahan ng mga gobyerno na tumatanggap ng Pantawid. Ito 'yung mga mahirap, 

[The first to receive are the people on the list of governments that accepts Pantawid. These are the poor ones,]

Duterte is referring to the government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Next to the 4Ps beneficiaries would be the poor families that are not on the list.

However, the President emphasized that before them would be the uniformed personnel. He said,

Pero mauna sa lahat ang mga military pati pulis kasi kung walang pulis pati military, babagsak tayo. Sinong magguwardiya sa atin?

[But the first above everyone else are the military and the policemen because without the police and the military, we will fall. Who will guard us?]

In earlier reports, the President has announced that the military would be implementing the government's free vaccine program against COVID-19. He assured that the poor Filipinos will be in the priority list.

Photo credit: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Duterte once again assured the public that a vaccine is coming soon and that he expects to receive supplies from China and Russia.

Weeks ago, Russia expressed its readiness to supply the Philippines with coronavirus vaccines. And in the President's State of the Nation Address, Duterte said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jin Ping who assured him the Philippines will be given priority once the vaccines are available.

The Food and Drug Administration said last week that it has yet to receive any application to start a clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccines.