MANILA – Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez insisted that the deals he is overseeing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are “fair and square” amid doubts that there might be corruption.
Galvez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart on Monday that the Philippines is complying with the “stringent requirements” laid out by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank for the payment of vaccines.
“Rest assured na ‘yung ating dealings for COVID-19 vaccines are done fair and square,” said Galvez.
The chief implementer of the country’s task force against COVID-19 also commented on to a tweet by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that said the supposed varying prices of Sinovac vaccines reminded him of
an old story about how corruption is committed in three Southeast Asian countries – UNDER the table, ON the table, and INCLUDING the table.
“Sa atin po, gusto ko lang pong ipaalala sa ating mga mahal na mamamayan, marami pong mababait at saka very honest dito sa government service po natin,” Galvez said.
“Huwag po nating anuhin na kapag galing ka sa gobyerno, corrupt po ang mga tao. Minsan nakakasakit po ng damdamin,” he added.
Galvez also said reports that the Philippines is buying the China-made vaccines at $38 were incorrect. The undisclosed price is somewhere in between the price India and Indonesia got it.
“Disclosing vaccine prices at Senate hearing would have compromised negotiations,” Galvez said. “The Philippines will be able to purchase more vaccine doses due to lowered prices after negotiations.”
The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February./PN
