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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Kiko urges gov't to submit COVID purchase plan

Kiko urges gov't to submit COVID purchase plan

Published Dec 19, 2020 01:16 pm

Sen.  Francis Pangilinan has appealed to the government to submit to the Senate its plan on the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Senator Francis Pangilinan (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

"Kung maaari, isumite na nila bago mag-Pasko 'yung kanilang mga aksyon, presentasyon para may puwede na tayong pag-aralan (If possible, they could submit before Christmas their actions, presentations, so we could start studying it)," Pangilinan said in a statement.

The Senate Committee of the Whole is set to conduct an inquiry on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has yet to set the date for the Senate inquiry. But Pangilinan, who filed the resolution calling for the convening of the  committee, said the hearing may begin early January. 

"Kailangang mag-step-up ang gobyerno sa pagsugpo sa COVID. Sa Singapore, halimbawa, nasa Phase 3 na sila, o pagbubukas muli bago mag-bagong taon at libreng bakuna para sa lahat pagdating ng third quarter ng 2021 (The government has to step-up its efforts to fight COVID-19. Singapore, for instance, is already in the phase three of the clinical trials of vaccines or will reopen before yearend and will provide free vaccines for all on the third quarter of 2021)," the opposition senator said.

"Tayo hanggang face shield pa lang (While we, on the other hand, are still stuck with face shields)," he added.

Pangilinan said the country’s return to normalcy and the revival of the economy will depend on the success of an "overall game plan" against the pandemic.

"In the end, hangga’t hindi natin natutugunan itong problema ng pagkalat ng COVID, apektado ang ating ekonomiya (as long we don't address the spread of COVID-19, our economy is affected)...Kaya napakahalaga na tama at mabilis ang aksyon kontra COVID (That's why it's important that our actions against COVID-19 are proper and prompt)," he said.

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