President Rodrigo Duterte has designated National Task Force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez as the vaccine czar.

In a televised press briefing on Monday, Duterte said he did not want a committee to handle the negotiation to purchase vaccines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once they are available.

"I gave the (task) to negotiate, production, distribution of the vaccine to Secretary Galvez. So, only Secretary Galvez is authorized to negotiate," he said.

Duterte said he has great faith that Galvez could do the job.

The Philippine government has been eyeing to purchase COVID-19 vaccines from countries, such as China, Russia, and the United States, among others. Celerina Monte/DMS