President Duterte Names COVID-19 NTF Chief Implementer As Vaccine Czar

President Duterte named COVID-19 NTF chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the vaccine czar

President Rodrigo Duterte had officially named COVID-19 National Task Force (NTF) chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the vaccine czar.

This, as Galvez would lead the government’s acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

President Duterte made the announcement on Monday evening during the situation briefing on the effects of Typhoon “Rolly” in Malacañang.

President Duterte Vaccine Czar
Photo: Manila Bulletin

President Duterte said that he chose Galvez — who was also the presidential adviser on the peace process — to become the vaccine czar because he trusted his abilities.

According to the President, he assigned the acquisition, negotiation, manufacture, production, or distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to Secretary Galvez.

READ ALSO: PH Forms Task Group For COVID-19 Vaccination Program

President Duterte also said that only Secretary Galvez was “authorized to negotiate or whatever”, adding that he had great faith in Galvez to really come up with the solutions for the problem.

The President explained that he decided to name a vaccine czar because it will take the government a long time to acquire COVID-19 vaccines if a committee would take charge of it.

President Duterte also said that he only wanted one line of authority coming from the Task Force, adding that he didn’t like committees as it would only take a long time.

Previously, the national government had formed a task group in preparation for its COVID-19 vaccination program.

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