MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court seeks to buy Covid-19 vaccines worth P19 million for its more than 30,000 members that include justices, judges, officials, and employees.
The High Court was given the green light to procure the vaccines upon the recommendation of the Office of Administrative Services, Fiscal Management and Budget Office, and the Office of the Court Administrator, the SC said in a statement Thursday.
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta will reach out to the national government in line with the vaccine procurement protocols.
“We hope that the national government will assist us in our initiative considering the important role which the Judiciary plays in ensuring that the rule of law prevails especially during times of crisis and national emergencies,” Peralta was quoted as saying.
The vaccines “will be chargeable against the respective regular appropriations or savings, as the case may be, of the Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower courts.”
The SC did not say which vaccine brand it wants to buy.