Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto suggested the appointment a “vaccine czar” to further intensify the government’s response against the COVID-19 crisis.
Recto said a vaccine czar will be heading the future distribution of vaccines to 110 million Filipinos. Said czar will also ensure that the Philippines will get their fair share of the drug which is estimated to only accommodate 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
“Ilan ang matitira para sa mga Pilipino? Countries who have sunk billions into their development have firm orders so they are first in line. Pang-ilan tayo sa mahabang linya?” Recto said.
[How many doses will be left for the Filipinos? Countries who have sunk billions into their development have firm orders so they are first in line. In which part of the long line do we fall under?]
“Against this obstacle, we need a Filipino with global stature, excellent connections and diplomatic skills to successfully place the orders and outsmart the competition”, he said.
The Duterte administration has named other czars to respond to the pandemic. Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vince Dizon was appointed testing czar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar as isolation czar, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong as contact tracing czar, while Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega was appointed treatment czar.
