Duterte wants police, military air assets to be used in bringing vaccines to provinces, municipalities

President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the use of air assets of the security forces for the delivery and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines to various regions and provinces.

In a pre-recorded public address that aired Wednesday, Duterte said he tasked the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide resources and support in the delivery of vaccines to other places.

"I have ordered Secretary (Carlito) Galvez, the PNP and the AFP to provide all the necessary support for LGUs particularly in the delivery of vaccines and mobilization of resources," Duterte said.

Duterte expressed concern over the transportation of vaccines in the regional and provincial level, noting that there seems to be a problem in bringing them to specific areas. He then directed the use of the air assets of the police and military for this purpose.

"Hindi ko malaman kung saan talaga nagkakamali, kung may mali, bakit mahina ang ano... ang paglabas ng bakuna dito sa national, medyo okay. Ang problema, pagdating doon sa provincial, regional level, doon nagkakaroon ng medyo problema so that even in the matter of deploying them to the proper sites eh mahina so sabi ko, gamitin na lang ang mga air assets ng PNP pati AFP," Duterte said.

(I don't know where the problem lies. Here at the national level, there's no problem with the transport of vaccines, however in the provincial or regional level, there are some issues when it comes to deploying them to proper sites. So, I said we just use the air assets of PNP and AFP.)

"Pagdating doon sa ano, pagdeliver doon sa eroplano, tapos pagdating doon 'yung mga helicopter diyan sa ano will take over. Sila na ang maghatid doon sa mga municipal governments. Ang problema nito kung pagdating doon mayroon bang sufficient number of people who can do the task of injecting..." he added.

(The helicopters will be used to deliver the vaccines in municipalities. The problem now is if there are sufficient number of people who will vaccinate.)

The President also warned local chief executives that they will face sanctions if they fail to administer COVID-19 vaccines to their constituents in the "most expeditious manner."

Duterte has directed Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to hold accountable local government units and local chief executives who will be found not performing well in the vaccination rollout.

The national government is targeting to administer at least 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of November. — RSJ, GMA News