Broken vaccine promise for DFA staff, diplomatic corps angers Locsin

DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The failure of the national government to deliver the promised 30,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna to the personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the diplomatic corps has angered Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

The country’s top diplomat again took to Twitter to express his displeasure, saying the failure to allocate the vaccine doses had caused him embarrassment among his people.

“I was promised 30,000 Moderna for my people and the diplomatic corps. My people who are frontliners. I don’t know where the f**k that went, but words cannot express my embarrassment and anger. No one endangers my people. No one,” Locsin said in a tweet Sunday.

I was promised 30,000 Moderna for my people and the diplomatic corps. My people who are frontliners. I don’t know where the f**k that went, but words cannot express my embarrassment and anger. No one endangers my people. No one.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 1, 2021

“We’re dying from overwork and overexposure to COVID, hardly getting help except from [Labor Secretary] Bebot Bello — I’ll kiss when I see him — and no vaccines for DFA and diplomatic corps because we are frontline but not essential enough,” he said in another tweet.

We're dying from overwork and overexposure to Covid hardly getting help except from Bebot Bello—I'll kiss when I see him—and no vaccines for DFA and diplomatic corps because we are frontline but not essential enough. Thank God for LGUs like Makati, Muntinlupa & Pasay. https://t.co/GEhGg0YYmd

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 2, 2021

The foreign affairs chief said many DFA personnel are frontliners extending services to thousands of people, from passport applications to repatriation efforts.

“People don’t realize that government workers keep our country going – across administrations and regardless of politics,” he said.

Especially since many are frontliners servicing thousands of people who need their passports renewed, documents apostilled, repatriations organised. People don’t realize that government workers keep our country going – across administrations and regardless of politics. https://t.co/C6Rq3u4S3A

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 1, 2021

In a separate tweet, Locsin thanked the local government units (LGUs) of Makati, Muntinlupa, and Pasay, where some of the department’s offices are located, for vaccinating DFA personnel.

“My people are finally getting vaccinated because of the LGUs. Thank GOD for them. We were not choosy about brands. That was what was offered at the time. The point is, it never materialized. Disappointing is an understatement,” he said.

My people are finally getting vaccinated because of the LGUs. Thank GOD for them. We were not choosy about brands. That was what was offered at the time. Point is it never materialised. Disappointing is an understatement. https://t.co/TmSNo1IzPB

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 1, 2021

So far, over nine million individuals have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Philippines, Malacañang said Monday.

The Philippines has so far received a total of 33.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since February.

On Thursday last week, the country administered over 659,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses in a day, surpassing its target of 500,000 jabs daily.

EDV