The Philippine government will borrow over $300 million to purchase vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.
In his weekly address, Duterte said the government will prioritize the vaccination of the poor.
“‘Yun yung mga milyonaryo, mga multimillionaire… ‘Yung mga nasa C, they are in a bracket which we think is pretty good to buy the medicines for themselves,” Duterte said.
“[Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III] says that he can borrow money of $300 million plus… Makapamili tayo but I think it would do as well to also realize that unahin talaga nila (vaccine manufacturers), ‘yung mga tao nila,” he added.
“Sa ngayon, magbili ka. Mahal. As I have promised, gastos ng gobyerno itong bakuna para sa lahat ng Pilipino kaya nga uumpisahan natin sa mga mahihirap pataas. . . . Iyong A,B crowd hindi na tayo mag gastos dyan kasi mga milyonaryo na yan,” Duterte said.
Seconds after vowing to pay for the vaccines of all Filipinos, however, the President said no part of the $300 million would be used for those with higher incomes.
“”Yung [Class] C, medyo hindi na. Sobra na ‘yung $300 million ni Secretary Dominguez. Hindi na tayo maggastos diyan kasi may mga pera na ‘yan. [Class] A, B crowd, ‘yun ‘yung mga milyonaryo, mga multimillionaire,” he said.
“‘Yung nasa C, they are in a bracket which we think are pretty good to buy the medicines for themselves,” Duterte added.
A 2018 study by the think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that 40 percent of the country’s population belonged to the middle-income class while 58 percent are part of the lower-income class.
The study said “low income” refers to those who earn between P9,520 and P19,040 each month at 2017 prices, while the “middle income” earners get P19,040 to P114,240.
“Mga kababayan ko, basta, mabakunahan kayo. Kailan? Maghintay lang tayo. Pera? Makahiram tayo kaagad. Ang supply ang problema,” Duterte said.
The Chief Executive added that he no longer fears catching COVID-19.
“The vaccine, there is hope for mankind pero ako, wala pang bakuna, hindi na ako takot,” he said. “But for the succeeding generations... I’m quite confident with the thought that they have a refuge which they can take shelter dito sa COVID storm.”
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the bulk of COVID-19 vaccines may arrive in the Philippines between the end of 2021 and early 2022.
The Philippines has tallied 399,749 infections as of Tuesday afternoon, including 361,919 recoveries and 7,661 deaths. —LDF/NB, GMA News
Duterte: Class ABC can buy COVID-19 vaccines for themselves
