"We simply must do everything to carry out mass vaccinations in the shortest possible time and stop this terrible disease, stop the deaths of thousands of people."

"This is for our workers who can't miss work to get vaccinated [especially] on those days when the wages are paid...They don't have to choose [between] a daily income or a vaccine," said Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Coronavirus lockdowns that grounded planes and emptied hotels and resorts made tourism an unreliable economic engine last year, and recovery would highly depend on how fast the Philippines can exit the pandemic.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency has already received a certificate of analysis, which is one of the documents required by the country’s drug regulator, from the Chinese vaccine maker. 

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez issued the statement days after lawmakers from Mindanao accused the national government of neglecting southern Philippines in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.