The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed elation Tuesday (Oct. 20) over the inclusion of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the Duterte government’s COVID-19 vaccination priority list. 

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the agency took note of President Duterte’s pronouncement last week that the 4Ps recipients will be the first to receive the coronavirus vaccines, along with the country’s security forces.  

"Ang DSWD ay malugod na tinatanggap ang anunsyo ng Malacañang at itong direktiba ng ating mahal na Pangulo na ang mga (4Ps) benefciaries ay kabilang sa prayoridad na makakuha ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 sa sandaling magkaroon na po nito sa ating bansa. Ito ay isang magandang balita lalo na’t ang beneficiaries ng 4Ps ay kabilang sa mga pinakamahirap na sektor ng ating lipunan,” she said in a virtual press briefing. 

(The DSWD gladly welcomes the announcement of Malacañang and the directive of our beloved President that the beneficiaries are included in the priority list who will receive the vaccine against COVID-19 once it is made available in the country. This is good news, especially since the 4Ps beneficiaries are included in the poorest sector in our society.) 

She said the agency has yet to come up with guidelines on the President’s directive to include the 4Ps beneficiaries in the vaccine priority list. 

“Sa ngayon ang prayoridad po ng DSWD ay mapangalagaan at masiguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga benepisyaryo na kabilang sa mahihirap at bulnerableng sektor,” Dumlao said. 

(As of now, the priority of the DSWD is to look after and ensure the safety of our beneficiaries who belong to poor and vulnerable sector.)

“Tayo naman po ay nakikiusap sa ating beneficiaries na maghintay ng anunsiyo sa pamamagitan ng official Facebook accounts ng ating opisina at ng ating Field Offices,” she said.

(We appeal to our beneficiaries to wait for announcement that will be issued through our official Facebook accounts of our office and our Feld Offices.)

in his public address on Wednesday evening last week, President Duterte said the 4Ps beneficiaries and the security forces who are are vital in securing the country will be the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to arrive in the country in in April 2021 at the earliest. 

He announced that the Russia is committed to construct a pharmaceutical plant in the country to produce the vaccines.