Duterte: Gov't to prioritize poor Filipinos when COVID-19 vaccine becomes available

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said poor Filipinos receiving government assistance will be the first to be given a vaccine against COVID-19 when it is available.

He said middle-income citizens will follow, as well as the military and police, whom he called the "backbone" of his administration.

"Ang una talaga 'yung mga tao sa listahan na tumatanggap ng assistance sa gobyerno. Ngayon, pangalawa, 'yung middle income. Libre ito, hindi ko ito ipagbili," Duterte said.

As to richer Filipinos, the President said: "'Yung mga mayaman, 'wag ninyo akong isipin, kasi hindi ako nag-iisip sa inyo... Kayo ang maka-afford."

"'Yung mga upper income, bumili na lang kayo," he said later on in the address.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said at least 20 million Filipinos will be vaccinated against COVID-19 for free. He said the government can finance P20 billion worth of vaccines which he said are expected to be ready by December.

Duterte said in his State of the Nation Address last Monday that he has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to prioritize the Philippines when China has produced a vaccine against COVID-19.

China said it "will give priority to [the Philippines'] needs once we succeed in developing a vaccine."

Duterte confirmed Friday that Beijing will give the Philippines priority access to the vaccine. —AOL, GMA News