PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Magandang gabi mga kababayan ko. Mayroon ho akong sasabihin sa inyo. Marami kasing haka-haka, tsismis dito, tsismis doon na alam ko nalilito na kayo. Iyong iba naman parang desperado na kung ano na nangyayari sa gobyerno.

Alam mo ho itong problema talaga ng COVID hindi ganoon kadali. For one, ang greatest disadvantage natin is hindi tayo mayaman at ito labanan ito ngayon sa highest bidder nga. Kung sino ‘yung makabayad ng una, mag-deposito na, tapos lalo na kung ‘yung bansa na ‘yon ang humihingi ng supply ng vaccine is the country where the factory is located — tawagin natin factory — nandiyan, nauuna talaga sa kanila.

Pero huwag ho kayong maniwala, just stick with General Galvez. Huwag na kayong — huwag kayong lumipas sa kanya or ignore him and believe the others.

As I have told you before, ganito ‘yan mayroon tayong pangbayad. Ang Asian Development Bank pati ang World Bank magpahiram sa atin para ibayad natin sa vaccine na bilhin natin. Iyong mga price-price haggling lang ‘yan eventually ‘yung mag-taper off ‘yan into a uniformity sa prices.

Hindi mo naman sabihin na sa isang lugar sa Pilipinas ipagbili mo ng limang daan tapos ‘yung iba — ibang countries because they are manufactured there, magbigay lang ng — ipagbili lang ng one dollar or five dollars. Hindi ganoon eh.

At saka ‘yung pera na ibayad natin hindi hawak ni Galvez, hindi hawak ng mga tao na inuutusan niyang gumawa ng formula na ‘yan kung paano tayo makakuha. Ang may hawak ng pera ho ang bangko.

Ang sinasabi nila na bilyon-bilyon-bilyon, ‘yang bilyon na ‘yan nandiyan sa World Bank pati sa Asian Development Bank. ‘Pag mayroon na tayo, dadaan na sa kay Dominguez — Secretary Dominguez sa Finance — ire-review nila ‘yan before submitting it to the LandBank — ah ADB bank pati sa World Bank. Dadaan muna sa kanya ‘yan at baka i-submit niya he might opt to have it — have it passed in a full vote sa Cabinet meeting, mag-botohan.

Ngayon, basahin ko ha sa round — sa news roundup rather on international affairs. Basahin ko muna ha dahan-dahan lang: “Europe…” “EU regulators recommend authorization of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.”

Tingnan mong ka-g*** ng European Union ha. “The European Union’s medicines regulator on Friday recommended authorizing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use among its 27 member states…” Kagaya itong Europe, mga European countries, parang asosasyon nila. Tapos ang sabi dito, “…capping off a turbulent week which saw the bloc attack the drugmaker over delays…” sa supply. Ito sa Europe na ‘to ginagawa na itong mga medisina doon.

Sabi nila, “…the European Medicines Agency…” Mayroon pala sila. European Medicines Agency said the AstraZeneca vaccine will prevent the deadly coronavirus from attacking people who are at least 18 years old. The vaccine has been administered in the UK since early this month. I expect the company to deliver 400 million doses as agreed, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said.

Meanwhile, the European Commission launched a new mechanism on Friday to monitor and in some cases block — parahin — coronavirus vaccines exports out of the European Union. The European Union has voiced concerns that vaccines could not be sent abroad — could be sent abroad before companies fulfilling obligations in their bloc.

Ganoon kadali. Ang atin dito ASEAN but we are not really as powerful as the EU. Eh wala tayong connection, wala tayong mga — wala tayong pera. May pera tayo pero naka-ready lang, standby.

So ‘yung mga haka-haka, mga istorya-istorya, tsismis ng mga ‘yung nakita ninyo sa TV during the last two weeks preceding ngayon, walang nangyari.

Puro lahat ‘yon, “ipa-preso namin si Galvez…” You can talk of billion huwag mo ng — gawain mo ng trillion kasi wala talagang pera. Ang pera nasa bangko. Wala tayong inipon na pera para diyan lang kasi hindi natin alam na ‘yang COVID dadating sa buhay natin.

Do you really want to know what’s happening in our economy? You talk to Dominguez. Alam mo lahat ng bayan ngayon ng buong mundo bagsak, talagang bagsak.

Tayo, maganda na sana noong hindi dumating ‘yung COVID we were doing fine. Hindi naman ‘yung very good. We were doing good. Tapos dumating ‘yung COVID. Walang kita, walang ano.

Ngayon, mababa na ang value… Well, ang GDP natin sabi ngayon it’s about nine. According to the Secretary of Finance, araw-araw ngayon hanggang matapos itong COVID, araw-araw we are losing two billion na pera para sana ‘yon sa mga tao ‘yung the workers, the Filipino workers, would have earned that money kung ang ekonomiya natin gumagalaw. Eh kaya nga hindi eh.

Iyong may social distancing. We cannot also argue with the science people. If they really mean good so what can we do about it? So ‘yung mga transportation, sabi kung hindi ‘yang social distancing nakaka-discourage. So ang transportation business wala.

And you know the world and the economy is run by oil, gas. Kung hindi natin patakbuhin ‘yang mga cargo trucks, mga ano diyan, wala na.

So we are sinking deeper and deeper pero hindi lang rin tayo. Kung hindi tayo, lahat. Pero we are trying our very best to keep us afloat.

Ang ekonomiya natin, mga kababayan ko, is masama talaga. Biro mo naman, ilan taong walang trabaho? Ilang… The economy of the Philippines is really — is in bad shape. But as I have said, it is not only the Philippines who suffers. We, in the world, is suffering with everybody.

Huwag naman masyado ninyong idiin ‘yang bayan ninyo na talagang pobre na ganoon kung ganoon. Nabubuhay pa naman tayo. Let us just hope for the best. The problem is ‘yung bakuna. For all of the brouhaha, “O mayroon kami dito nakita, mayroon kami…” Saan? Eh ‘yung AstraZeneca hinostage (hostage) ng European Union.

Kasi sa Europe kasi isa ‘yung isa — parang isa na lang sila. Ang pera nila ng eu — euro dollars ang pera ng France pero lahat tanggap na ‘yan. Wala na silang distinction kaya ganoon ang ginagawa nila.

Ewan ko kung ano but sana itong — one day, maybe, one day — not, not in other fields of ano — magkakaroon rin tayo ng panahon to shine. I might — hindi na ako ‘yan. But kung dalhin lang nang mabuti, hindi naman gaganti, but our time will shine someday.

Iyong ating ASEAN it is not that powerful to have a clout sa mga ganitong ginagawa ngayon. Wala nga eh. Walang supply. Maski ‘yung mga tao sabi nila, “Mayroon, mayroon kaming mabili.” Sige, sabi ko. Bumili kayo tapos idaan lang ninyo diyan sa FDA.

Ngayon kung approved na ‘yan, for sale, eh ‘di bumili kayo. Tingnan ninyo kung may stock. Magkano ang bili ninyo, 10,000 doses? Ni — ni hindi nga — isang barangay lang ‘yan.

So we cannot do anything. We cannot call upon the heavens to fall on its knees to demand and be ours what is not to be simply ours.

So just keep your faith in government tutal si Galvez ‘yon naman ang trabaho niya. Ako ang trabaho ko, may trabaho — may trabaho kami kanina.

Dominguez takes care of the economy. Si Secretary Duque naman, eh palagi nilang inaaway pero tama naman. Pero ganoon siguro ‘yang public office, Secretary. Do not be — ma-ano ka sa — you get discouraged from the brickbats thrown against you.

Now, sandali dito ha. Let us go to another. Itong atin is again, may I just read it, maybe it will be fortified by the announcements also of the Task Force.

Ang community quarantine classification as of February 1 to 28, 2021, as follows: As earlier announced, some areas will remain under the general community quarantine from February 1 to 28, 2021: NCR; Abra; Apayao; Benguet; Baguio; Ifugao; Kalinga; Mountain Province; Batangas for Luzon; Tacloban for Visayas; Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City for Mindanao.

Santiago City, Ormoc City, and all areas placed under the modified general community quarantine. Ito ha, uulitin ko itong — Santiago City, Ormoc and all areas are placed under modified general community quarantine.

Just the list of mga empleyado sa gobyerno na suspendido, January 23, 2017: Florencio Padernal, misconduct, suspended for three months; Dr. Gregorio Pang Jr., same, misconduct, three months; Genever Dionio, same, suspension.

Mayroon dito, I’d like to — I’d like to remind the CHED to write me a letter kasi dito si Maria — Dra. Ma. Teresa Samonte, Chief Administrative Officer, CHED Regional Office 12. Ang kasalanan niya serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, falsification of public documents, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Now, next is that — si General Galvez will give us a report on COVID-19, additional. Sir, where are we now, sir, sa ano ating negotiation sa vaccine?

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID-19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO GALVEZ JR.: Sir, on our negotiation, sir, out of seven companies, we have already signed term sheet of five and we have already locked in the ano, the supply of 106 to 108 doses, including po ‘yung ano, ‘yung sa single dose.

So all in all, sir, we can ano, we can — by ano, by this coming February ano, February second week, we are trying to ano, to come up with the supply agreements with the vaccine manufacturers na we will also include the two remaining contracts that we will ano, we will — we are negotiating, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: How many do you expect?

SEC. GALVEZ: We are expecting up to 146 to 148 doses po, sir. This excluding for the ano, for the — for the ano, for the COVAX that we are assured to have more or less 40 million doses po, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, General, with your permission, I’d like to ask the Secretary of Finance to give us the wherewithals kung papaano ‘to, how it is being played, kasi ‘yung number na we are targeting 70 million, he knows how to place his marbles well. I cannot follow him.

So we’ll ask him to just say how many Filipinos may be vaccinated, how many will not be vaccinated, and why we need a lesser amount.

Sonny? Tagalugin mo na lang, Son.

DOF SECRETARY CARLOS DOMINGUEZ III: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. First of all ho, we are pursuing three approaches to the vaccine procurement ho.

Number one: Multilateral approach. Sabi ho niyo ‘yung World Bank, ADB, Asian Infrastructure Bank, at saka ‘yung COVAX. Iyong COVAX po, in-explain ho niyo, is a World Health Organization activity na nagpo-provide ho ng vaccines to poorer countries. That’s the first strategy, ‘yung multilateral approach. Iyong second ho, iyong partnership with the private sector; at saka ‘yung third ho, partnership with the local governments.

These approaches are independent but they are coordinated para ho we will have enough dose — doses to vaccinate 100 percent of the adult population.

Ang multilateral approach ho, ‘yung national government multilateral approach, mayroon ho tayong funding ng US$1.38 billion. Galing ho ‘yan sa World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and plus iyong we have funds for vaccine through the agreements with suppliers or with COVAX.

These will fund ho a total of 106 million doses of vaccines. Ang value ho niyan: US$1.2 billion, and plus we have 40 million doses of vaccines under COVAX. Ang cost ho of COVAX is only — ang contribution na natin sa COVAX for 40 million is only $84 million.

Itong 146 or 148 million doses will vaccinate 76 million adults — more than 100 percent of the adult population. Ngayon, iyong mga aged 1 to 18 years old na hindi puwede i-vaccinate is around 40 million. So we have to vaccinate around 70 million.

However, we have negotiated for 92 million kasi ho nai-experience na nababasa natin sa diyaryo eh may mga slippage — mga delays sa delivery. There’s delays in Europe, there’s delay in the US. So to be safe, we have — we are negotiating more — more than what we need of 70 million.

So ang… We really expect delays. Pero delay is not our fault because we have the money and we are ready. Ang delay ho sa manufacturing.

So this is ho the program that we have. And I hope the public, if they have any questions, can ask Secretary Galvez, Secretary Duque, or myself to clarify on this.

Now, we cannot just say the names of the vaccines in public. But these are vaccines, as I said, they are AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novavax, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, at saka Sinovac. So this is the… Ito ho ‘yung program ng — program natin.

We need to vaccinate around 70 million. We have negotiations. Tayo at saka ‘yung private sector around 178 million doses good for 92 million people. So this is our program po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Let’s go back to Secretary Galvez.

SEC. GALVEZ: Sir, ito pong next slide po, sir, maganda po ‘yung balita po, sir, natin, kasi… [Next slide po. Next slide.]

Dahil po noong nag-submit po tayo ng ano ng ating recommendations sa COVAX noong January 18, pinirmahan po namin ni Secretary Duque na tayo po ay mag-a-apply ng COVAX facility na for early rollout.

Ang ini-expect lang po natin ay 250 po na Pfizer. Actually, iyon lang po ang ano po namin, preparation. Pero gusto po namin magpasalamat sa WHO at saka sa GAVI po, sir, dahil kasi talagang tinupad po nila ‘yung pangako po nila na…

Dahil kasi po talagang tinawagan po namin sila sa New York, tinawagan din po namin ‘yung ano — ‘yung mga country rep po dito na sinabi po namin talaga na kulang po tayo sa first quarter ng — of the year katulad po ng mga developing countries at saka mga poor countries.

At maganda po na nagbigay po sila, sir, ng ano — ng 117,000 na Pfizer para sa ating mga healthcare workers. Iyon pong ano pong ‘yan 117, one tranche po ‘yan, ibibigay po sa atin. And then ‘yung AstraZeneca rin po, nagbigay rin po ang COVAX ng 5.5 million to 9.2 million.

So ito po puwede pa pong scalable po ito pagka nakita po nila na talagang kaya po nating i-dispose kaagad itong mga ano po — kasi po ang naipangako po sa atin ay 20 percent or more or less 40 million doses.

So ito po, gusto po naming magpasalamat sa WHO at saka GAVI dahil kasi talagang they are giving so much premium on the equity of ano — equity of access to poor countries and developing countries.

And ito po, nakita po natin na mayroon din po itong tinatawag na mga kailangan po na mga corresponding next step na gagawin po natin at we will comply po ni DOH ‘yung mga gagawin pong mga ano po natin.

At natutuwa po kami at natutuwa po ‘yung mga LGU na they will receive ‘yung ano — ‘yung 117,000 na COVAX Pfizer and also more or less 5.5 million to 9.2 million po na AstraZeneca. Ang rollout po nito is mid- or last week of February. Kaya po mayroon po tayong at least mga more or less na aasahan na 3 million doses this coming February po, sir.

[Next slide.]

And then ito po, na-discuss na po na we have already signed five term sheet and then also locked in more or less 106 to 108 million. And then we are preparing also for definitive supply agreement and then also the finalization of contracts by mid of February.

[Next slide, sir.]

Sir, ito po, sir, ang prino-propose po namin na rollout dahil po talaga nag-ano po si Secretary Dominguez na talagang napakalaki po ‘yung ano ‘yung naging epekto po ng ano ng COVID-19.

So ang ano po namin, we are to be flexible also. Kasi sa Indonesia po, ang ginawa po ng ano, ng Indonesia, to protect also their economy, priniority (priority) po nila ‘yung mga essential workers. So iyon po ang ano iyon po ang titingnan po natin.

Now, dito po, doon sa ating mini rollout with COVAX, we are recommending po, sir, na we have to protect and preserve ‘yung healthcare service muna, sir, iyong…

Kasi po ‘yung ating mga healthcare — healthcare ano workers, ito po ang pinaka parang pinaka ano po, pinaka-vulnerable. At saka po ito po ang ano eh pagka hindi po natin sila pinrotektahan, sila pa ang magba-vaccinate. Magko-collapse po ‘yung healthcare system po natin.

Iyon po ang niri-recommend po ng WHO na unahin po natin iyong ano iyong ating mga hospitals and iyong mga healthcare workers na gagamitin natin sa vaccination.

This also includes, sir, iyong ano ‘yung tinatawag nating ‘yung ano iyong mga protection of vulnerable sectors and government frontliners, katulad na po, sir, ‘yung vaccinators at saka ‘yung uniformed personnel.

Dahil kasi ‘yung uniformed personnel po gagamitin po natin ‘yan sa massive vaccination. They should be also included in the ano, sir, in the first batch, during the first quarter.

And we are recommending sa second quarter, sir, dapat maibigay na natin din kasama rin po sa ating ano, ating recommendation: the protection of priority sectors, institutions. These include, sir, ‘yung economic frontliners.

Iyon po ang niri-recommend din po ng mga Metro Manila mayors kasi iyon po talaga rin nakikita natin ‘yung sinasabi niyo nga po ‘yung mga driver sa mga food and industries, sa mga services — ‘yung social services, at the same time ‘yung mga life support services, kailangan maproteksyunan din po natin ito. Ito po, ito po mga mahihirap din po ito eh.

Iyon po ang ina-ano po ng ano ng recommendations ng ating mga communities and mga LGUs.

And then iyong talagang full rollout po natin, our ano — our volumes will be coming on the third and fourth quarter. So we are expecting more or less 30 to 50 million doses per quarter during ano — during the third and fourth quarter.

Pero iyong mga ano po natin, iyong atin pong mga manufacturers na naka-engage, they are willing na ano na magkaroon po ng early rollout at saka early distribution sa quarter two kasama po ‘yung tinatawag nating ‘yung Serum Institute of India, which is considered the ano, the world pharmaceutical company.

We are negotiating na magkaroon po ng ano, magkaroon po ng second quarter na rollout, especially ‘yung Novavax po at saka ‘yung AstraZeneca.

So iyon lang po, mahal na Presidente, at thank you very much po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Salamat po.

Well, I think we are through with all of the topics that need to be discussed tonight.

In their order, it is always the COVID and then the — the concomitant ruckus that it creates in the minds of some people. I hope that this will clear up the fog — the mist in the grey matter between the ears of people rooting na ‘yung mabilis kang mag-ano mag — fast to [unclear], to condemn, to start question.

Ang hingiin ko lang sana, patapusin mo lang ninyo kami. Tutal any — if there’s a liability in one, there will be a liability in all. If there’s anomaly in the start, then verily at the end of the whatever project is undertaken or activity, it’s always be there.

So, kindly refrain from just smelling here and there just to find a worthwhile topic which to the people is very important lalo na kung corruption. Pagka sabi corruption, magsabi ng mga… Kasi ang tao it’s bombarded by issues about corruption. It’s not only with dito sa atin, sa inyo rin. Wala man exempted dito sa ano… So nobody is proud of sabihin mo you are an island there, an independent one. You cannot be because we are all part of government.

Ang akin lang is, next time is they should ask first or at least rendahan ninyo ‘yung the urge, the — to urge so parang bitawan na kaagad ‘yung kabayo na para lang to gain publicity or to appear in public to be pristine.

Kaya nga eh sabi ko, all of you there have been painting Duque black because you appear — you want to appear white there. Iyan ang ano… If you want to appear white, then paint your opponent black and then you are always white. Ganoon ‘yan.

So mukhang wala naman siguro tayong additional topic unless there is one. Kung mayroon, we can extend. Kung wala na, may I just ask the people to… I said, the next time, do not be so gullible and — basta maniwala na lang kayo, talk about corruption, left and right. I mean, it starts with a big bang and it ends with a whimper.

Wala nga, sabi ko sa’yo, ni walang napakulong ‘yang mga iyan. Sa — ‘yung napakulong ng on the basis of their investigation? Wala ‘yan. On the basis of their evidence gathered by them, ah karamihan nagbagsakan din.

So, if at all, mas mabuti pa ‘yung finile (file) ng pulis. There’s a semblance of success there.

So wala namang iba kami hong ipaabot sa inyo. I said, you have a choice: Maniwala kayo sa kanila o maniwala kayo sa amin.

Kung maniwala kayo sa kanila, go ahead, sige. Walang nagpipigil sa inyo. Ngayon, kung may naiwan na maniwala sa amin, just keep faith with us. At the end of the day, you will see that everything has been done in accordance with the rule of law.

Salamat po. [applause]

— END —

Source: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)