‘Clear authority’ for LGUs to deal directly with Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers pushed

Vials labelled “COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” are placed on dry ice in this illustration taken, December 4, 2020. Picture taken December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) should be allowed to directly negotiate with suppliers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, the national president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines said Monday.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said LGUs should have “clear authority” to negotiate with vaccine suppliers.

“Our only concern is the authority of local governments from the national government to procure directly from the suppliers. Of course it has to pass through the national government but we want clear authority to negotiate directly with the suppliers,” Velasco said.

Velasco likewise said that the national government should also commit that the vaccines procured by LGUs will also be used for their constituents.

From League of Provinces of the Philippines Facebook

The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that “no company”, referring to vaccine manufacturers, will directly go to the private sector or LGUs because they are not authorized to do so since “their product is only a EUA (emergency use authorization).”

Currently, LGUs may procure supplies of vaccines but through tripartite agreements with the manufacturers and national government.

In the House, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez has filed a resolution urging the national government to allow LGUs to procure their COVID-19 vaccines directly from manufacturers.

Rodriguez said allowing LGUs and private companies to buy their own vaccine supply will greatly help the national government in achieving its goal of herd immunity.

Senators have likewise insisted that LGUs and private companies should be allowed to directly deal with COVID-19 vaccine suppliers on their own and without the national government’s intervention.

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