MANILA, Philippines—Palayan City in Nueva Ecija province is the latest to join the growing list of local government units (LGU) to set aside funds for coronavirus vaccines but it planned to give the vaccines for free to city residents.
In a Facebook post on Friday (Jan. 8), Palayan City Mayor Rianne Cuevas announced that the city government was now working on securing P50 million worth of vaccines for city residents.
“Susulat na po tayo kay Sec. Galvez para sa plano nating ito. Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin po tayo sa iba’t ibang accredited suppliers ng anti-covid vaccines (We are writing to Sec. Galvez for this plan of ours. We are also communicating with different accredited suppliers of anti-covid vaccines),” she said, referring to vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez.
Galvez is also chief implementor of the National Action Plan against COVID-19.
The city government planned to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population.
The vaccines would be given for free to Palayan residents and an estimated 40,000 doses were expected to be purchased.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved a deal early this week to allow local governments to procure vaccines against SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Local governments can purchase vaccines through a tripartite system between vaccine manufacturer, LGU and the national government.