LGUs, private sector more prepared for COVID-19 vaccines than nat’l gov’t — Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson said it is unfortunate and disgusting that local government units and private sectors already have plans to procure vaccines while the national government is still mulling on which brand the country should acquire.

“Nakakalungkot naman, tayo hanggang ngayon nag-uusap pa tayo kung anong vaccine ang ia-approve ng FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) eh ngayon may sinasabing compassionate permit eh pwede naman pala yung ganon, yung EUA (Emergency Use Authorization),” Lacson said in an interview over DZMM Teleradyo.

(It’s unfortunate that up until now we are still deciding on which brands should be approved by FDA even though there are a compassion permit and EUA which can be used.)

“Hindi ba disgusting na private sector pa yung nangunguna para magkaroon tayo ng pangunahing vaccine na proven naman na at ginagamit na sa ibang bansa? Parang kahiya-hiya naman yung gobyerno,” he added.

(Isn’t it disgusting that the private sector is leading us to provide initial vaccine doses that are proven and being used in other countries instead of the national government? This is embarrassing for the government.)

The senator was referring to the deal signed between the private sector and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca Philippines last year.

According to the agreement, half of the doses will be given to government medical front-liners while the other half will be for employees in the private sector.

“Ngayon, may paparating tayong 2.5 million doses ng AstraZeneca pero ‘yun, nangyari lang ‘yun dahil sa initiative ng private sector. Nag offer sila sa gobyerno ng fifty-fifty, meaning 1.25 million sige idodonate namin sa gobyerno pero bigay niyo naman samin yung 1.25 million para sa empleyado namin,” Lacson said.

(There are 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca about to arrive here, but that was made possible because of the initiative of the private sector. They offered the government fifty-fifty, meaning they will donate 1.25 million doses to the government while they get the remaining half for their employees.)

The senator also cited the initiative of different LGUs to allocate a budget for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents. In some cities like Manila, Makati, and San Juan City, residents can already pre-register for the city’s free inoculation programs.

“May mga constituents sila, nag budget sila kasi nag pasa na rin ng kani-kanilang mga budget yung mga LGUs. Eh dapat parang challenge na ito sa national government o baka naghihintay na naman itong national government ng kung anong brand ang gustong bilhin,” Lacson commented.

(They have constituents, they already passed their own budget to procure, this should be a challenge to the national government.)

He also asked what happened to the loans that we got which he said are supposed to be used to procure vaccines.

“Nakailang loan na tayo para sa vaccine eh bakit hanggang ngayon wala tayong vaccine?” (We already secured several loans for the vaccine so why don’t we still have the vaccines?)

He earlier said that the Senate probe on the COVID-19 vaccine should focus on why the country still has yet to approve any COVID-19 vaccines.

EDV