PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: First, we will take up the vaccine acquisition a little bit later.

Secretary Galvez will make the report in simplified form because it’s too complicated actually at this time.

But we will report first on the government response sa Typhoon Ulysses pati Rolly. What we have done so far.

But before I proceed any further, I would like to just give a caution to the Vice President. She made a blunder, a big one, and she practically lied making her incapable of truth. Alam mo ‘yung pakana niya na wala ako sa bagyo — I was here, dito. I was attending a summit — ASEAN Summit ‘yon. So virtual lang palit-palit kami, we were talking sa electronic. Nandito ako noon.

Kasagsagan ng bagyo dumaan diyan sa labas, nag-uusap kami dito. But right after, it was on the second day noong sinabi ko magdaan ‘yung ano, I will excuse myself from the signing of the documents for I have to make a survey sa damage.

Hindi ako na-ano sa sabihin mo anong gusto niyang mangyari kung saan ako — nasaan ang Presidente. You know, you should — I am sure that you should — you knew of the ASEAN Summit going on, ASEAN, and that I was delivering the intervention, the statement of intervention for China as the China Coordinator, ASEAN-China, and I was also making my own statement of how the ASEAN approved documents would impact on our economy later on.

Hindi ako nagtutulog. Ganito ‘yan, ganito ‘yan, Vice President, makinig ka ha, hindi kasi — kasi siguro nakinig noon eh. Remember kayong mga Pilipino sinabi ko sa inyo prangkahan sa press conference, that I am a night person. I work on the state government documents sa gabi.

And being a lawyer, hindi ako kagaya ng iba pagka may initial na doon sa ibang opisina dumaan, na pipirma ako. I’m not that kind of person because you know you are a lawyer, I’m a lawyer, so you have to be very careful.

Ang sinabi ko sa mga tao, tatrabahuin ko ‘yan sa gabi hanggang umaga. I won’t have to complete it because you cannot just finish it in one hour. Well, pirma lang, okay lang. But if you read, ibang istorya ‘yan. So it would take time. Sometimes I sleep four, five, six, seven, sometimes eight pagka madalian.

Ngayon, sinabi ko sa tao ‘yan that I’m a night person. My day begins at two, two o’clock hanggang sa gabi na walang limit. In our Cabinet meetings ganun. Ikaw, Cabinet member ka man sandali, hanggang gabi na ‘yan aabot ng alas dos, alas tres ng umaga. Cabinet meeting ‘yan. Alam mo ‘yan.

Ngayon kung sabihin mo may emergency, natutulog ako sa umaga, hindi ako natulog noon. Gising ako ng umaga because of the summit. At same time, I would go and whisper to the military guys in the room of how — how was it developing and what was the reaction of our government people there and the resources. Hindi mo na kailangan orderin ‘yan sila kasi two days before deployed na ‘yan sila doon po, nasa bodega na ‘yan ng mga sa gobyerno. Naka-deploy na ‘yan.

Iyong mga sundalo pati nga ‘yung sa Davao ‘yung security ko kinuha, half of it, dinala dito in anticipation dito sa typhoon, sunod-sunod kasi eh. So ‘pag sinabi mong nasaan ako? I can ask the entire government machinery, foreign affairs, nandito ako nagsasalita.

While you were making calls, nagche-check ka pakunwari… Alam mo ‘yung mga military hindi ‘yan maniwala sa iyo because tama sila you are not in the line of authority basta ganun. Wala kang… Times of emergency, ako lang pati ang military. It’s between me and military pagka pulis. Iyan lang sila kami mag-ano.

Now, kung sa ano — kung sa civilian, marami ‘yang — kung hindi mo alam puro military na ang humawak niyan: Jalad who is a — sa disaster talaga for the longest time, nandoon na ‘yan; Rolly Bautista, former general sa Army, nandoon na, nakapuwesto na. He was absent here because he was there. DSWD siya eh, alam na niya. So lahat ng kailangan doon, nandoon na ‘yung sa mga military pati ‘yung mga Cabinet members.

There was no need for you to make a — make a very masamang biro na, “where were you?” Kung sabihin ko tuloy sa iyo, what time did you go home? Ikaw noong gabi, anong oras ka umuwi? Isang bahay ka lang ba? Dalawang bahay ka? Tatanong lang ako kasi congressman ka. At kaninong bahay ka natagalan? Iyan ang sabihin ko sa iyo.

So huwag ka masyadong porma-porma, hindi mo talaga panahon. Hindi mo pa panahon. Not time to be making a grandstanding coming up with… Hindi ninyo alam na nagtatrabaho ako. Na-timingan lang it was a summit and I cannot excuse you for not knowing it. You knew that there was a summit going on and you had the gall to say, “Nasaan ang Presidente?”

Kasi alam mo siguro bagyo, I could not make myself available. But you know kung ‘yan ang paradigm mo sa pagtingin mo sa Presidente, sabihin mo nasaan ka Presidente? The storm was all over Luzon. Saan mo ako gustong ilagay doon? Sa inyo sa Bicol sa bahay ninyo sa Naga? O dito ako sa Parañaque? May baha rin eh. So where were you?

Hindi na kailangan akong mag-order ng — at mag-order ka pa on the day, God… You were presuming that I should be giving orders on the day of the storm. That is stupid. That is why you cannot become a president really. Mahina ka eh. Wala ka nang ibigay order kasi ang order naibigay na two or three days. You do not give orders on the day of the war. Patay ka.

So I hate to say this, but kung ganun ka, huwag kang magtakbo ng presi — talagang mahina ka. You do not know and then you lied. You were not honest. Isa pa ‘yan.

When you — alam mo — alam mo may summit going on, ASEAN Summit. And I was giving — I am giving the longest  speech there because I was the —intervention in the Plenary. Iyon ang totoo diyan. Kaya ako lumipad doon sa Bicol, inunahan mo ako pakunwari.

But do not compete with me and do not start a quarrel with me kasi ikaw wala ka talagang nagawa except ‘yang mga tawag-tawag. Tatawag ka kunwari o nasaaan na ‘yung mga helicopter nalipad na ba? Of course they would say yes. Your — your — your question would suggest the answer.

Iyon bang ano mga helicopter natin na-deploy? Iyong ating mga ano nandoon na? Yes, yes, yes ‘yan puro. Then you make it appear na gumalaw ang Armed Forces. Kaya kita mo ininsulto ka ng dalawang generals. The one is I think a Marine officer and the other one is an Army. General [Luga?], yeah. Kita mo ininsulto ka. You are not part of the command.

Dalawa kasi — for all you know abugado ka man, dalawa ang role ko. Nandito ako sa itaas, isang linya ko is the Armed Forces and the police. Akin ‘yan. Dito through DILG, kay Secretary Año. Iyan lahat ng — Defense is si General Lorenzana. Dito I am the head of government, iyan ‘yang mga civilian. Iyon ang ano eh, mga DSWD, mga…

So ‘pag sinabi mo mag-order, you do not… Ano bang gawain mo? Wala, tapos na ‘yan. It has become a fait accompli question for you. You do not give orders on the day of the battle. You go and tell your soldiers to deploy and to take their position so that when the enemy comes, you would be able to respond appropriately.

That is the analogy. Hindi ka magbigay ng order. Where is he? When the storm is raging, wala ka ng order maibigay sometimes the lines are cut. Ano pa bang ibigay mong order diyan? It’s too late. Or sabi mo mag-ano ka — kukunin pa nila ‘yung mga ba — mga boats diyan sa ano. They were already near to the nearest military installations, naka-standby na.

So next time, do not commit the mistake or I’ll be forced to insult you because you are playing too much — nagpapa — nagpapa-ano ka, pagpa-beauty ka ng ano. It’s not the time for you. During the campaign… Paalis na ako. Sige, subukan mo.

Matagal na talaga akong maraming sabihin sa iyo pero ireserba ko na lang. When you start your campaign kung magtakbo ka ng presidente, waswasan kita nang husto. Well, this is your bad — this is your nightmare. Sabi ko pagka-incompetent mo and you were lying. You knew that I was working. You knew that there was [an] ASEAN Summit.

Do not tell me that you do not know about these things. You are the Vice President of this country and you cannot pretend that you do not know what was happening sa gobyerno. Na-timing may typhoon and so iyon ang nangyari. We have to — ako dito, I was busy with my intervention.

ASEAN Summit ‘yon. Usually we go out of the — our countries to attend. Sa Vietnam ngayon, the venue. It was impossible because may bagyo, may COVID pa. We do it by teleconferencing. Ito — itong ganito.

So next time, count your marbles first before you let them. Iyong marbles mo sa kamay mo, ’wag mo masyadong ilaro kaagad na hindi ka sigurado. You — ikaw, your daughter sumali ka na sa politika, ayon.

I would — ikaw… I would tell the Filipino people right now that you are a dishonest person, you knew that there was a summit conference, and you knew that we were working, the Cabinet, except ‘yung DSW[D] nandoon na because they were deployed earlier kaya si General Bautista ‘yon. Kaya sinabi ko kaya ko kinukuha ‘yang mga military kasi nauutusan ko.

Lesson one for you, do not plan and give orders on the day of the battle. You just sit where you are. If you are a commander, do not go to the frontlines and have yourself shot and die. Magpapa-hero ka lang niyan. Well, if you want to be… So when you’d become the president, if you want, buy some plenty of swimsuits and start to swim when the floods come.

Your suggestion, your suggestive question is a poor man’s argument. Ako dishonest ka. I do not believe that you didn’t know that there was a summit conference. And you lied to the public you didn’t even know — or you don’t even know how to tell — how to present it na alam mo mayroon tayo — without even mentioning me. Do not mind me. I can survive. You do not even reminded the people na we are having a conference here and there’s a storm. Wala, basta ikaw ano…

Kaya gusto kong malaman, ikaw gabi-gabi lumalakad ka man, anong oras ka umuuwi at kaninong bahay ka tumatagal? Thank you.

Now, we will give the people a rundown of — dito muna tayo mag-umpisa sa… Just give us the simple rundown. Huwag muna mag… Do not go into details but if you have the PowerPoints, well, about the response of your departments during the COVID. Then we will go to the bakuna which is what the people are really waiting for.

We can begin with Senate — Secretary Duque. You have something to report about the typhoon?

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Yes, Mr. President. Magandang gabi po sa inyo, Mr. President, Senator Bong Go, at mga kapwa ko miyembro ng Gabinete.

Mayroon po akong PowerPoint presentation at muli dalawa pong bahagi ang akin pong iuulat sa inyo po at sa taong-bayan.

Unang-una po iyong sa Typhoon Ulysses updates at susundan po ng aming usual COVID-19 updates.

[Next slide.]

Base sa aming naitala, ang pinaka — ang pinagsamang halaga ng pinsala na dulot ng Typhoon Rolly at Ulysses ay nasa 303.9 million. Kasama sa mga napinsala ay isang Center for Health Development, siyam na DOH hospital and laboratory facility, limang LGU hospitals, dalawampung rural health units at limampu’t pitong barangay health stations. Ang status ng limang mga health facilities ay kabuuang halaga ng pinsala ay sa kasalukuyan ring ina-asses.

Inaantay natin ang balita from other temporary treatment and monitoring facilities o mga isolation and quarantine facilities at iba pang mga pasilidad na hindi pa po nakapagpapadala ng updates gawa nang kawalan ng mobile phone service sa ilang lugar. Kaya naman hindi pa kumpleto ang mga numero diyan po sa ating table na — on the screen. Rest assured na patuloy ang aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila.

[Next.]

Bilang tugon sa isa na naman napinsalang kalamidad, ang DOH ay nakapaghatid nang humigit-kumulang labing tatlong milyong piso halaga ng mga gamot, mga medisina, commodities, sa Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development na kung saan ay napakamalubha po ang pagbaha at ganoon din sa CALABARZON-CHD ay a little over 2 million pesos po ang halaga nang ating naibigay na ayuda at mga 2.1 million naman sa NCR-CHD.

Patuloy din ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba pang apektadong Centers for Health Development, ang NDRRMC, ang Response Cluster at iba pang health partners upang siguruhin maiabot natin ang health services at masigurong efficient and coordinated ang atin pong pagtugon sa kalamidad na naranasan po ng mga komunidad lalo na ang mga lugar na malubhang naapektuhan.

Sa paghahatid natin ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan, sinisigurado natin na nasusunod ang minimum public health standards upang masiguro na nakapaghahatid tayo ng delicant — dekalidad na health services habang iniiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 in affected areas.

So, iyan lang po ang patungkol sa health response to the Typhoon Ulysses na nag-overlap po with Typhoon Rolly. So patuloy po muli ang assessment.

Para naman po sa update na ginagawa ng DOH para ma-facilitate ang pag-approve ng mga bakuna at iba pang mga gamot laban sa COVID-19, ang DOH through FDA ay kami po ay nagpo-propose respectfully na pag-adopt ng Emergency Use Authorization or EUA, at sa bisa ng EUA, tayo ay makakagamit ng medisina, bakuna and other health technologies through the process of Reliance and Recognition.

Ito po ay facilitated approval sa konteksto ng public health emergencies tulad ng ating kinahaharap na pandemya na kinikilala ng World Health Organization.

Ang Reliance ay tumutukoy sa proseso ng pagtiwala ng ating FDA sa mga evaluations na ginawa sa ibang mga National Regulatory Authorities sa ibang bansa sa pagko-consider o pagdedesisyon nito ng mga application naman dito sa ating bayan.

Ang Recognition naman ay ang routine na acceptance ng FDA ng regulatory decision ng ibang National Regulatory Authorities or ibang mga trusted institutions.

Hindi po basta-basta ang pagbibigay ng EUA sapagkat ito po ay ating ginagamit lamang kapagka:

1. May medical health emergency;
2. May serious o life-threatening disease;
3. Mayroong patunay na ang produkto may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat a disease;
4. May positive risk/benefit balance; at panghuli
5. Walang adequate or approved at available na kapalit or alternative.

Ang FDA ay mariin na magsasagawa po ng post-marketing surveillance activities at ang EUA maaaring i-revise or i-revoke ng FDA kung kinakailangan upang maprotektahan ang kalusugan. We are respectfully requesting that you consider the issuance of an executive order for FDA to grant an Emergency Use Authorization for the various vaccines that will — will enter the country and for which applications are to be filed.

Para mabilis po ito, it will cut the processing time from six months to about 21 days, Mr. President. So it will cut the red tape and, again, that is for your consideration.

So, iyon lang po ang aking report, Mr. President. Thank you very much for the opportunity and I am ready to answer questions.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Salamat, Secretary Duque. Now, Del, you want to well…

DND SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA: Yes, Mr. President, kuwan lang po ito, kaunti lang po.

First ay iyong ating mga minamanmanan natin na mga OFWs na umuuwi rito. Mayroon ng 310,000 na nakauwi, Mr. President, at tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang uwi nila at the rate of about I think 1,500 a day.

Iyon pong ating mga nationals sa Sabah ay mayroong — mayroon na ulit dumating na 151, dagdag ito sa 9 — 1,986 na dumating na noong isang buwan, a total of 2,137. Mayroon pa hong natitirang 2,863 sa Sabah.

Dito naman po sa ating response to the Typhoon Rolly and Ulysses, nandoon pa rin po iyong ating mga tropa sa mga lugar na nasalanta ng bagyo sa Bicol at doon sa Cagayan Valley.

Ito pong nandito sa Marikina ay medyo humupa na. Ang ginagawa nila diyan, Mr. President, is clearing na nung mga — mga putik na dinala ng bagyo.

Iyon pong ating dalawang barko na malalaki ay naghahakot ng mga relief goods. Kaninang umaga po ay umalis iyong isang barko natin na punong-puno ng mga goods papuntang Catanduanes at iyong isa naman ay kasalukuyang nagkakarga ng mga dadalhin sa Cagayan.

Iyong ating isang C-130 ay umiikot, kanina nagpunta sa Camarines. Ngayong gabi ay magdadala rin siya ng mga relief goods sa Cagayan Valley.

So, hindi pa po umaalis iyong mga tropa natin doon. Panay — patuloy pa rin ang kanilang pag-aayuda sa mga tao natin — sa mga taong nasalanta. Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes. Good as any other time, Secretary, to thank the Armed Forces and the National Police for their untiring work there.

I went there, kasama man tayo, and I — nakita ko kung gaano kahirap ng trabaho ng mga pulis pati military.

SEC. LORENZANA: Mr. President, mayroon po akong dagdag pala nakalimutan ko.

Kami po sa NDRRMC ay nagmungkahi sa Office of the President na i-declare na state of calamity itong buong island ng Luzon at saka ‘yung mga karatig na mga isla.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Mukhang napirmahan ko na ata.

SEC. LORENZANA: Ah, sige. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Last night. Last night, I think, I signed the proclamation.

Secretary Año, would you want to say something?

DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO: Opo, magandang gabi po, Mr. President. Dadagdagan ko lang po ‘yung ulat ni Secretary Lorenzana.

Patuloy po ‘yung pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa mga LGUs nasasakupan ng anim na region at labing-siyam na probinsiya. Ito po ‘yung tinamaan ng Typhoon Ulysses. Actually, sila rin po ‘yung tinamaan ng Typhoon Rolly.

As of kahapon po ay mayroon pa tayong more or less mga 200,954 families sa mga evacuation centers. Total of 692,169, ito po ‘yung mga inulat ng ating mga LGUs. At mino-monitor po natin kung nagkaroon po ng outbreak o surge at — na magandang balita naman po na, as of kanina po, ay pina-inspect natin at wala naman pong nagaganap na surge or outbreak sa ating mga evacuation center.

Maganda po rin ang pagkaka-observe ng mga minimum health standard protocols. Pero nakita po pa rin namin ‘yung kakulangan ng ating mga evacuation centers.

So kanina po sa aming Senate plenary hearing ay mayroon pong mga magandang pangako po ‘yung ating mga Senador sa pangunguna ni Senator Lacson na makapagdagdag ng pondo para po makapagpatayo at ma-repair ‘yung mga evacuation center na nasira nitong Typhoon Ulysses.

At sa kabuuan po, ang naging casualty natin, as of today po, ay 73 dead and 19 missing. Kung ikukumpara po ito sa Bagyong Ondoy, maliit pa rin po ito. Ang Ondoy ay Region III, Region IV-A, at saka NCR. Tatlong region po pero almost 500 po ‘yung namatay doon.

Dito po, covering almost the entire Luzon with only 73 casualties. Nakapaghanda po tayo katulad po nung sinabi ninyo na tatlong araw pa po bago dumating ang mga bagyo na ‘yan, nagmi-meeting na po kami sa NDRRMC at naka-deploy na po ‘yung mga tropa, mga ahensya.

In fact po noong November 30 ng gabi, wala po kaming tulog niyan sapagkat noong lumabas po na nakalubog ang Cagayan ay tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung pag-ugnayan natin kay governor, sa AFP, sa PNP kasi ang naging priority po natin ay mailigtas ang lahat ng stranded nasa ibabaw ng bubong.

Tuloy-tuloy po ‘yon hanggang sa kinabukasan nakarating na rin ang mga dagdag na tropa ng Coast Guard, ng AFP at saka PNP at Bureau of Fire Protection. So ito po ‘yung template na ginagawa natin at marami po tayong nasi-save na buhay.

So pag-iigihin pa po namin ‘yung aming paghahanda para sigurado na ma-attain natin ‘yung zero casualty kapagka magaganap ang mga ganitong mga typhoon or disaster.

Nagsisimula na rin po kami nang pag-uusap ‘yung sinasabi natin na kung papaano ima-manage ‘yung mga dam. Bukas ay may meeting nga ang NDRRMC, ang NIA, ang DILG, at ibang ahensya, ang PAGASA, para po ma-aralan natin mabuti kung papaano ire-release ‘yung mga tubig bago at habang dumarating ‘yung bagyo.

So ‘yon lang po, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you. As I have said, I am quite overly satisfied with the performance of the uniformed personnel of government.

Now, itong… Secretary Lorenzana mentioned about the repair of evacuation centers. Iyan nga ang sanang tugunan ng Congress, Bong, kasi pagka itong ganitong a deluge, they tend to go to places for shelter and relief.

Alam mo, it is high time that government consider really, of course, in the government units facing the Pacific Ocean, gamit na gamit ito na we build a strong structure, stronger than a typhoon that would come their way para mapuntahan ng mga tao, and maybe small rooms with many comfort rooms where people can really stay for awhile.

Alam mo bakit? Pagka hindi natin ito ginawa pagkatapos ng post-COVID, hopefully kung maawa ang Diyos, itong mga tao, they usually refer to the schools and public buildings, thereby creating an aberration in the movement or in the development of the different governmental functions and the education.

I assigned only one person to do all of these things from the selection, appropriation, and everything. But it is also a good thing that Secretary Galvez has partnered with the Secretary of Finance because this, well, calls for money. And we must have the funding before we embark on the selection.

But as I have told you, we will look for a solution. Huwag ho kayong… Do not despair kasi sabi ko nga noon e baka maawa ang Diyos by December, January, mayroon na tayong makitang relief in sight.

So we have… I was given the option of how to get it. Secretary Galvez is here. Binigay ko sa kanya lahat kasi sabi ko ayaw ko nga ‘yang committee-committee. Only one person whom I can trust, who is honest, and whose integrity is beyond question.

Siya na lahat. Ikaw na ang mamili tapos tignan mo. Get the best bargain. So might as well that we are here. I’ll ask Secretary Galvez to tell us. Hindi na bale na ho ‘yung ano. The report of Secretary Año and Secretary Delfin Lorenzana would suffice a report to the nation.

Anyway, marami namang newspaper nagpa-publish. It’s all the same. It’s a rehash of what we have already said. So okay na ‘yon sa akin ‘yung report. However short, it’s still okay and that would suffice for the moment.

I’d like to ask you, Secretary Galvez, to talk about the COVID now, how you intend to — the process of selecting the financial modality of how to go about it and everything. Go ahead.

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID-19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO GALVEZ JR.: Sir, Mr. President, thank you very much for allowing me to report to the public kung ano po ang ginagawa po natin sa pagse-select sa ating mga vaccine.

Tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung evaluation po ng ating vaccine of experts at saka ng FDA kung ano po ‘yung tamang solusyon ng pagkukuha ng vaccine. At ang atin pong vaccine of expert ay ni-rank po ‘yung 17 na ano, 17 po ang ating pong possible sources of vaccines sa iba’t-ibang mga bansa.

At out of the 17 po sir, siyam po ‘yung nasa tinatawag nating Phase 3 trial. At sa Phase 3 trial pong ito, tatlo po doon ang magkakaroon po ng trial dito po sa atin this coming December and January.

Nagpapasalamat po tayo kay Enrique Razon na mayroon po rin siyang binigay na 300,000 doses. Ang BDO at saka po ‘yung ibang mga Lucio Tan Group at saka San Miguel Corporation saka Go Negosyo. Nakapag-raise na po sila ng more than 1 million. And hopefully, baka tataas pa ‘yon ng 1 or to 2 million doses. Ito po para po sa kanilang mga ano po — ido-donate po nila ‘yung 80 to 50 percent of the vaccine at saka ‘yung iba po gagamitin po nila sa kanilang mga poor essential workers po at no cost po sa ano po natin.

Kung magkakaroon po tayo ng advance procurement po ay by the end of the year, puwede po nating magkaroon po tayo ng signing of the loan agreements.

Kaya po ang amin pong rekomendasyon po, Mr. President, [next slide please] ay we enter on the Advance Market Commitment

through the multilateral arrangement with World Bank and ADB as our finance manager. At the same time, we have also to have various modes of financing including Private-Public Tripartite Agreement without the cost with the government.

So the private sector will finance it by buying directly to the vaccine company but with ano — with the regulation that the DOH will be the one who will know, who will decide where the vaccine will be given.

And then also, we are recommending the Emergency Use [Authorization] to be issued by FDA via a proposed EO as proposed by Secretary Duque, sir.

That’s all, Mr. President and hopefully sir kung makapag-move po tayo, we can ano, we can be assured ‘yung 30 million doses to 50 million doses by next year po, sir. Pagka nag-roll out po ang ibang bansa, we can also have our rollout here, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you.

So mga kababayan ko, narinig ninyo si General Galvez. Ito ‘yung pamaraan kung paano makuha — iba’t ibang pamaraan paano makuha natin ang COVID. Iyon ang sinasabi ko na…

Now, may mga arrangement, may mga ‘yung walang bidding, may bidding o diretso ‘yung executive order. In time of emergencies, diretso na. Whatever it is, I have full faith and trust in the Task Force and ‘yung itinuro kong — siya, siya kasi ang implementer, siya na ang bibili, siya na ang mamili, siya na lahat.

At well of course you have to worry about the procurement. May mga pamaraan kasi na bago ka makabili, iyan ‘yang bidding, ‘yung ganoon, but there is also a way of not doing it. If it takes time, then I can go directly and just issue the order to buy and to vaccinate the population.

Secretary Galvez, I would like to remind you that we have this commitment that we will start with the poorest of the poor. So may schedule ka na niyan?

SEC. GALVEZ: Yes, sir. Ang ano po natin sir based doon sa framework sir na sinubmit (submit) po namin sa inyo po sir ng DOH, we will start with the frontliners and then ‘yung mga poor and vulnerable communities, and then also we will have the soldiers and also the servicemen and also the essential workers po, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: The soldiers include their families kasi… For as long as one is not vaccinated, there’s a contamination in the family. So if you give it to a soldier, give it to the entire family.

SEC. GALVEZ: We will po, sir. We will.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Pamilya-pamilya na lang ‘yan. Tapos ‘yung sa — in the matter of identifying the group, kasali naman si Secretary Duque will also take part in the selection.

Basta unahin natin ‘yung mahirap then paakyat. Kung tayo, kung aabot pa tayo. Kung hindi na tayo aabot, pasensya na lang.

But ang usapan kasi mauna ‘yung mga talagang kawawa sa buhay.  So they will be the first protected citizens of this country.

Mukhang… Secretary Roque, I’m waiting for your report.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE: Sir, bumalik po tayo sa Cagayan, doon po tayo nag-press briefing kanina. Pinuntahan po natin ‘yung munisipyo ng Alcala kasi iyon po ‘yung pinakaapektado ng pagbaha.

At bagama’t tama po ‘yung sinabi ni Secretary Año na dapat siguro magkaroon ng synchronization sa pagbukas ng Magat Dam, eh sinabi po noong mayor doon na naging estudyante ko po, na ang talagang problema po sa kanila eh ‘yung Cagayan River 400 meters wide pero pagdating po doon sa munisipyo nila, nagkakaroon  ng bottleneck dahil 118 meters na lang.

So kaya po sila naging pinakaapektado siyempre po umapaw po ‘yung river dahil ang daming tubig na bumaba galing sa Ifugao, galing sa Sierra Madre, at lahat nag-converge po doon sa lugar nila ‘no. Parang ang comparison nga po ang EDSA ay six lanes tapos magiging two lanes ‘no. So iyon po ‘yung dahilan kaya 25 out of 26 barangays po nila ay lumubog.

So binigyan niya po ako ng kopya noong JICA study. Mayroon na palang JICA study noong 1987 pa na nagre-recommend na lawakan ‘yung narrow port ng Cagayan River at ipararating ko po ito kay Secretary Villar bukas.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: We would like to help pero let us understand the problem from the — iyong tamang perspective.  Actually, the culprit there was the rain — rainfall. How many inches? I really do not know. I have not checked. But sobra-sobra ‘yung tubig.

Whether there are really logging or mining there, talagang bubuhos ‘yung tubig. Kagaya nung sa Cagayan and other places, it was an extraordinary volume of water pouring down from the heaven.

Now, itong mga casualties, ito ‘yung nagma-mine — nagbubutas kasi ‘yan sila. You know ‘pag ang bukid butasan mo, dito marami kayong nagbubutas sa small mining in search for the gold, in pursuit of the gold, marami kayong butas, iyong tubig papasok doon sa butas ninyo.

Then it stays there and kung marami ‘yan it loosens, maluluwang ‘yung lupa. Kaya maglalambot, babagsak. And the problem is, itong mga miners, they have their settlements or their houses whatever dito sa baba, just like what happened in Davao.

Kung dito kayo sa baba — in Davao, several times, they don’t — they refused to learn. Doon pa rin sila. I do not know why but there must be a reason for that. Doon sila. Pagbagsak ng ulan, puno ‘yung mga butas, loosens the lupa, pag-landslide doon sila sa baba, madadali.

So iyon. Hindi sabihin na — ‘yung ano lang, ‘yung mining lang ang ano o illegal logging. Illegal logging is — alam mo, matagal ko nang pinag-aralan ‘yan tsk mayor pa ako ‘yang illegal logging.

Ang Pilipino kasi, ‘yung average Pilipino, they cannot afford a concrete house. So halos lahat diyan sa mga — tawag natin lahat let us be — let us use the word as being understood by all, ‘yung mga squatters puro kahoy ‘yan. Bibili ‘yan sa — including coconut wood.

Ang problema niyan sa bukid, talagang magpuputol ‘yon ng kahoy because ang mga Filipino ‘yan lang ang… Eh saan man sila magkuha ng semento? Where do they cut the trees? In Canada? O pupunta pa sila doon sa South America o Africa?

So kung ano makita nila nabibili, ‘yung small-scale logging-logging, they make money because people are also buying at karamihan niyan ginagawa nag-ano lang… [Excuse me.] Bahay ng mga tao.

And the population is increasing, so the needs are also greater every year. Magtatayo ng bahay and the temptation really to cut the trees in the mountain and bring it to the lower land ay really to build houses. Kaya hindi mawala ‘yang mga sawmill, sawmill, sawmill.

Mahirap ‘yan. I am in a quandary actually of how to solve the problem. So sabihin mo na you want to help, eh ‘di mag- semento tayo. I don’t know if that is really feasible or viable, if you may, kasi mahal. Itong kahoy lang na binibili ng mga squatters pati ‘yung talagang walang titulo at they look for a place, squatting on some others’ property.

But ‘yung raw materials nila galing bukid ‘yan. Ang — ang — what I’m trying to point out to you is that all of the trees were cut long time ago, mostly by the loggers, ‘yung nagkaroon ng pera sa logging. Maraming yumaman diyan. Doon sila kumuha ng kayamanan nila, logging.

Exportable ‘yan noon sa America, sa Japan — Japan wala. Iyon. Noong naubos na ‘yung talagang lumber, ‘yon na ‘yung naiwan at ‘yon ang sina — kung pag-a-ano pa, sina-salvage na lang ng mga tao para doon sa mga bahay-bahay nila.

So how to prevent that? I really do not know. Unless I can offer a better deal for them, you’ll just have to — even if it’s a coconut, may panahon the coco — the cutting of coconut is prohibited.

Kawawa ‘yung tao. They cannot — alam mo ang tao maski na gaano, however humble he is, gusto talaga magtayo ng bahay ‘yan para sa pamilya niya. So where do they get the materials? They get the materials from the remaining — tawag diyan, “logged-over”. Iyong dinaanan na ng logging at noon ‘yung hindi pinutol kasi maliit pa, medyo ngayon malakas na and they would try to — mahalaga na sa kanila ‘yan. Iyan ang… It’s all over the Philippines, ganoon ang sitwasyon.

So ang pag-control na lang is really how to build… The dams are also not a good alternative kasi at one time we will have to release the water. Otherwise, a greater damage will be created. Kung mag-collapse ang dam, hindi ma-ano. Hindi lang — buti ‘yan dahan-dahan lang. Kung ang dam ang mag-collapse the water — there’s a waterway created upstairs, babagsak ‘yan doon sa mga tao.

So that’s my thoughts on the matter today. But despite of its fury, we were able to manage. Hindi naman… I know that it leaves a bad taste in the mouth to say that minimal ang namatay. Pero hindi kagaya ng Ondoy, ngayon medyo ano.

And because we have a better — marami na kasi tayong — we have been buying. Ang Coast Guard sige bili ng mga — itong mga rubber boats. And they were the ones that were deployed. Sabi nga ni — siya ‘yung sa disaster, siya ‘yung chairman, he ordered the deployment of the equipment to save lives three, two days before.

Kaya ‘yan pahawak ko sa military. Hindi na ako mag-ano because General Lorenzana knows his business. Kapag ngayon na may typhoon coming in, he’s already busy giving orders left and right. So ako, hindi na ako kailangan except to place my imprimatur na, “Okay, sige. Iyan ang gawain natin.” And that’s about a few words.

Now, kung anong order during the kasagsagan, you don’t — you do not prepare when the typhoon is already there. The typhoon simply was just too furious for everybody.

So kung sabihin mo, “Nasaan si Duterte?” Well, Leni Robredo knew, I’m sure, that there was a summit meeting. For her not to know it, it’s a sin for a Vice President to be ignorant about what’s happening in government. And the only way — the only thing that you can say just to reach the — the media is, “Saan si Duterte?” When you knew that I was busy giving my statement of intervention.

I delivered about two speeches. One for my being the Coordinator, ang Philippines is the Coordinator of ASEAN-China. And one isa pa ‘yung para sa ating bayan, statement for the country. [She] knew it, I’m sure. Vice President siya. She cannot pretend ignorance about that. That’s why I said she was lying. She was a liar.

Gusto ninyong ipalabas natutulog. Kung ordinary times, walang emergency, walang typhoon, I told you right in the beginning of my term, I am a night person. My day starts at 2 o’clock in Malacañan. Sabi ko kasi binabasa ko lahat ‘yang dokumento. Hindi basta-basta ‘yang dumarating sa akin, bulto-bulto ‘yan.

Even the promotion of the military and the police iniisa-isa ko ‘yan kung mayroon bang mga derogatory. Kung mayroon diyan naka-attach, binabasa ko. Tapos kung hindi naman masyadong ano, I’ll go ahead with the promotion.

I — I promote them in spite of itong mga ano. Basta hindi lang mabigat na kasalanan. Iyang insubordination, ganun, let the — let their commanders do the — how to impose discipline. So ‘yan ho ang nangyari sa noong bagyo. Nandito po ako. Ganito, dito nag — I was delivering the statement for ASEAN as Coordinator. Philippines is the Coordinator, then as a statement sa ating bayan.

Noong kasagsagan ng ano, hinihintay ko lang, but I told sila na ‘pag lumagpas ‘yung bagyo, mag-take off ako. That was it. Kung sabihin mong maglangoy ako doon…

Alam mo kasi, kami lahat, we are workers of government. Trabahante kami. Alam namin ang trabaho kay ‘yan ang pinasukan nam… Secretary Duque knows his business. General Galvez, he managed the war in Marawi together with the others.

Ang tanong ko nga sa kanila kung magtanungan lang naman, if we go down to the basics, where were you during the Marawi siege? Wala akong nakitang opisyal doon, senador o congressman, except you. Si Secretary Roque went there to — maski na papaano eh in a small way you — you identify yourself in solidarity with the — with the people. Iyon hindi ‘yon bagyo, giyera ‘yon. How many times did I go there? Ten times. Butas pa ‘yung helicopter ko, tinamaan ng bala because I took off during nighttime.

Bago tayo matapos, sinabi ko sa inyo na sasabihin ko ‘yung mga tao na napaalis sa gobyerno o nasuspendido for various offenses.

Ang sa DOTr: Si Antonio Jenno — Atty. Jenno Antonio C. Villanueva, dismissed sa trabaho; Atty. Rommel Lloyd Martinez, dismissed by the Department of Transportation; si Edgardo Catarongan, dismissed by my office upon the recommendation of DO — ‘yung LTO; si Romeo Buhay, suspendido lang ito ng one year pero he was involved in fixing activity sa LTO Bacoor District Office, favoring insurance company sa medical service. I will review his rec — the records. I think he should be dismissed. Sa Bacoor ito.

Jose — Joelito T. Mandaya, office head sa LTO-Mati, Davao Oriental. Dismissed by the Department of Transportation. Si Ebitha Odilao-Rodriguez ng Compostela Valley — that’s Davao Oro, dismissed from the service. Mar Jose Magistrado, Department of Transportation, dismissed from the service. Si Jose Graciano Robles, suspended by the Department of Transportation. Again, I will review his case — or because I think he should also be dismissed.

Dito sa Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board: si Jean Gunda, dismissed by the Department of Transportation for Grave Misconduct. Receiving personal use of fee, gift — bribery ‘to in other words. Itong si Melanie Diaz, suspended for allegedly receiving 200,000 in exchange for a franchise. This is bribery. I am changing the penalty from suspension to dismissal.

Manalo Labor, dismissed by the Department of Transportation. Atty. Samuel Jardin, I will dismiss him because that is the — ah dumaan na pala ito ng Ombudsman so let it be. Suspension lang.

Edmundo Cabral, dismissed sa Department of Transportation; Gerardo Del Rio, LTFRB, dismissed from the department; Col. Vladimir Custer S. Kahulugan, direc — Regional Director LTFRB-Region V, bribery; Andres Tabunda, falsification, making it appear that persons have participated in an act of proceeding when in fact, did not so participate.

From the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation, which used to be under DOTr. The agency was transferred to the DND. Commodore Gilbert Rueras, dismissed from the service; Emmanuel Virtucio, chairperson-OTC, illegal extraction, nanghihingi — bribery. Ciriaco Bermejo, Office of Transportation Security, dismissed by the department. Romeo Buhay, preventive suspension lang. Greg Arellano… Bakit ganito lang? They are — the charge is — they were involved in a massive and illegal conversion of Chinese driver’s liicense. They allegedly processed and converted Chinese driver’s license to Philippine driver’s license based on spurious documents. They should be dismissed also.

He is a Job Order personnel, Erwin Susmerano. Francisco Ranches, Assistant Regional Director, LTO Region IV-A. Illegal conversion of licenses of the Chinese, making it appear that it was the Philippines. Joselito Caballero, dismissed by the Ombudsman. Oliver Todoc, suspended by the Ombudsman.

So ito iyong drive natin sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices. Many more kasi pending eh. Many more na may mga kaso. Maski na malakad ninyo na suspension lang pagdating dito sa opisina ko, I can reverse any decision pababa except the Ombudsman. Kung dito sa akin, ‘pag basta may pera, conversion ganoon, dismissed kayo. I will reverse the decision from dismissal to — ah from conver — suspension to dismissal.

Iyan po ang nangyari sa ating drive, sabi ko sa corruption. So kung gusto ninyo, iyong iba sa gobyerno, sige. Do it and I will be — I’d be glad also to accomodate you — obliged you, rather. I-connect mo ‘yon doon sa ano bago matapos.

SEC. ROQUE: Sir, ‘yung mga estudyante po na loko-loko na ayaw pumasok. Nagpo-protesta, hindi raw sila magsa-submit ng academic requirements hanggang hindi raw natutulungan ang mga biktima ng typhoon. Iyon po ‘yung sinasabi nila.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You are taking the cudgels of the poor ahead of your time. That is not your worry, that is the worry of government. Kami, sabi ko, nagtatrabaho kami. Government workers kami.

Anong silbi namin dito? Mag-upo lang kung ‘di gumalaw para sa tao. At ‘yung ganoon mga — huwag kayong pumasok… I’d suggest to you stop schooling. Until mabakunahan lahat ng Pilipino, you resume your duty. And you wait for another typhoon and see if the help that we extend is enough to your satisfaction. Bantayan na lang ninyo ‘yung mga bagyong dadating at tignan ninyo ‘yung mga nangangailangan ng tulong na hindi natulungan, then you protest again.

Stop schooling. That will save money for your parents. Better make use of your time anywhere. Sige. Iyong mga eskwelahan, UP? Fine. Maghinto kayo ng aral. I will stop the funding. Nandiyan ‘yan

wala na ginawa itong ano kundi mag-recruit ng mga komunista diyan.

Tapos nag-aaral kayo ang gusto ninyong binibira ang gobyerno. Masyado namang nakasuwerte kayo. Huwag talaga kayong matakot — manakot rather kasi I will oblige you.

Thank you. [applause]

 

— END —

 

SOURCE: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)