President Duterte ordered Galvez to disclose the details of COVID-19 vaccine deals to Sotto, according to Senator Go.
President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. to disclose the details of the government’s vaccine deals with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to Senate President Vicente Sotto III for the sake of transparency.
This, as Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday made the disclosure through a video statement.
In a video statement, Senator Go said that the President had instructed Sec. Galvez to inform Senate President Sotto about the vaccine deal.
In addition, Senator Go said that he also talked to Senate President Sotto about it for the sake of transparency.
WATCH: Sen. Go says Pres. Duterte ordered vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to disclose to SP Tito Sotto the PHL gov’t deals with COVID-19 vaccine makers. @gmanews
— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) January 19, 2021
📸 Office of Sen. Go pic.twitter.com/dPSO6kFpvE
“‘Di ko alam anong paraan but mag-uusap yata sila ni SP. For transparency naman ang gusto ng pangulo… pero importante ‘wag maantala ang vaccine implementation,” Senator Go said when asked if Galvez would do so in an executive session with Senate President Sotto.
Earlier in the day, Galvez — citing the confidentiality disclosure agreements (CDA) with vaccine manufacturers — said that the Philippines would lose 148 million COVID-19 vaccine doses if the prices of COVID-19 vaccines would be disclosed at this point.
READ ALSO: Galvez Warns Vaccine Deals May Be Jeopardized If Prices Of COVID-19 Vaccines Are Publicized
Lawmakers pressed executive officials during the previous Senate hearings to unveil the prices of COVID-19 vaccines that the Philippine government would procure, but those in charge of the procurement of vaccines invoked the said non-disclosure agreement.
According to Senator Panfilo Lacson, he suspected an attempt to overprice the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinovac even though the Palace previously mentioned that it was given to the Philippines at a price “fit for best friends”.
The Senate Committee of the Whole will continue its inquiry on the Philippine government’s COVID-19 vaccination program on Friday.
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