Duterte assigns Galvez as PH's COVID vaccine czar

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed COVID-19 National Task Force (NTF) chief implementer and former army general Carlito Galvez Jr. as the country's COVID-19 vaccine czar on Monday.

During the televised press briefing on Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), President Duterte announced Galvez's new title.

"Pagbili ng bakuna, the negotiation, manufacture, production, or distribution, binigay ko 'yan kay Secretary Galvez. So only Secretary Galvez is authorized to negotiate or whatever. Isa lang," Duterte said.

Duterte also noted that instead of having different committees, he wants to have a single line of authority in the purchase of the expected vaccine against COVID-19.

“Ayaw ko ‘yang committee, committee. Matagal ‘yan. I have great faith in Charlie to really come up with the solutions for the problem,” he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed Galvez's appointment as vaccine czar through a text message to reporters.

Aside from designating Galvez as vaccine czar, there are 4 other "czars" in the Duterte government's COVID-19 response – testing czar Vince Dizon, treatment czar Leopoldo Vega, tracing czar Benjamin Magalong, and isolation czar Mark Villar.

Just last month, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto urged Malacañang to designate a vaccine czar to prepare for the storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Words by Lattrel Ylaya Layout by Kiziah Magbanua