“What are your thoughts on the Duterte
administration’s COVID-19 vaccination plans?”

“[The] idealization [of the vaccination] by collective narcissists as a panacea for the systemic and moral ills of the Duterte administration is both manufactured and misleading. The institutional abuses of the government to effectively respond to the pandemic and other recent national crises […] sow doubt into people’s minds whether a return to the real normal is possible. This administration, in essence, is the Sinovac of our country—grossly ineffective and lacking in credible transparency.”

Vboi Opeña

1 BS ES

“It is inevitable that the delays in government response […] will be even more pronounced as we try to vaccinate millions of people. Another concern I have is the cultural barriers that may be present. I remember seeing a survey from Pulse Asia; […] almost half [of 2,400 respondents] said they would not take the vaccine because they doubted its safety. I don’t think the administration has earned the trust of the people, so we have to overcome these logistical and cultural challenges to […] bring an end to this health crisis.”

Jenny*

2 AB DS

“The Duterte administration’s COVID-19 response has been, to say the least, inefficient and harmful. With the efforts going towards militarization rather than health, many Filipinos have suffered in numerous ways. Now that the long proclaimed […] vaccination has arrived at our doorstep, the administration fails to optimize the available solutions by choosing less effective vaccines. It has become clear that the government doesn’t want this pandemic to end, as it’ll mean the end of their tyranny.”

Redd Alli

1 AB POS

“It was stated that the government will come up with $1.5 billion to vaccinate around 60 to 70 million Filipinos within three to five years. However, this plan did not seem to align with the proposed 2021 budget, [which] contained just $52 million for vaccine procurement. Although it was clarified that this fund is just for an initial 3 million vaccines for essential health workers, the seemingly disorganized response that the administration has given towards COVID-19 is questionable.”

Andrea Banatao

2 AB PSY

“[The] vaccination program is another example of the Duterte administration’s bootlicking of the Chinese, as well as another cash grab of the Department of Health. Together with the ongoing PhilHealth corruption scandal putting the agency officials’ integrity into question, the strong insistence of the government in selling the 50% efficacy vaccine Sinovac in exorbitant prices, despite the existence of cheaper and more effective vaccines in Pfizer and AstraZeneca, serves as a testament to this.”

Ralph Ernest Argana

1 BS ME

“Simply put, the current administration’s handling of the entire pandemic thus far has  been completely inadequate. Not only has the complete disregard for human rights been clear, it has also yielded deadly consequences for marginalized people. The promise of a vaccine may currently be a hope for Filipinos living in the fringes of society, but it is important to keep in mind that the current administration is self-interested at best, and actively dangerous to the impoverished at worst.”

Lisa*

3 AB POS

“We have been served lies and incompetence on a silver platter by the Philippine government. The illegal vaccinations and the preferential treatment towards a vaccine that is expensive and inefficient should compel us to question their motives. Who does this government serve? Certainly not the Filipinos.”

Jerard Afable

Sports Club Sector Representative

“I believe that the government does not have the best interest of Filipinos when making decisions towards their vaccination plans. The Sinovac vaccine has an efficacy of 50%. I think that they only picked that vaccine to be in good graces with China, which is where the vaccine comes from. There are other brands like Pfizer and Moderna with higher success rates and cheaper prices. [The Filipino government has] their own interests in mind rather than the greater good of the country.”

Giana Camacho

2 BFA CW & AB PSY

“The Duterte administration cannot blame the public for speculating about irregularities in vaccine procurement and distribution because of their lack of transparency when it comes to contracts and agreements. As much as everyone wants to return to the feeling of normalcy, […] they have shown a preference for a vaccine that only has a 50% efficacy rate and a relatively higher price compared to other vaccines [from] other countries. Ultimately, it is public safety and welfare that should be the priority above all things.”

TJ Alcantara

School of Social Sciences Representative

“The fact that the government is asking the Filipino citizens not to be choosy over the brand of the vaccine, and even denying priority slots for those who refuse to take them, is absurd. To pair their insensitivity is their complacency and lack of urgency in reserving vaccines early, which led to the Filipino people to suffer. It is a failure to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

Alisa*

3 BS BIO

Editor’s Note: Some interviewee names have been changed upon their request to protect their identities.