MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) have been directed to coordinate with the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 regarding vaccine procurement to prevent duplication of inoculation against the coronavirus disease, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.
“We thank the LGUs for augmenting the efforts of the National Government. We are on track to purchase some 184 million doses from several manufacturers and the procurement by LGUs will be a big help to inoculate more people,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“The President has approved the tripartite approach in LGU procurement. We will follow this system to ensure that all involved parties are on the same page. So all LGUs who are planning vaccine procurement must coordinate with vaccine czar Charlie Galvez,” he added.
Año said proper coordination will make sure that prices of COVID-19 vaccines are “standardized,” and that “there will be no duplication of vaccinated individuals.”
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)
“The procurer of the vaccine is the national government so that DOH will still monitor this. DOH will still lead in the acquisition as well as the national government because vaccines may need additional doses,” Ano added in Filipino.
Vaccine czar and NTF chief Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that the country is eyeing to purchase 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year.
(Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP)
Most local government units in Metro Manila have set aside funds for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.