MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday called on local government units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance imposing penalties to persons selling COVID-19 vaccination slots.
“Ang panawagan nga po namin sa mga lokal na pamahalaan, e kung pupuwede po ay magpasa rin sila ng ordinansa na nagpapataw nagparusa doon sa mga nagbebenta ng slots para malinaw po na meron tayong legal na basehan para parusahan ang mga taong gumagawa nito,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.
(Our call to the local government units is if they could pass an ordinance imposing penalties to those selling slots so that we could have a clear legal basis to punish persons doing this.)
A similar ordinance has been signed in the city of Manila, prohibiting any person, institution, corporation, group or organization from selling, distributing or administering vaccines against COVID-19 for profit.
Violators of the said ordinance would be punished with a fine of P5,000 and a jail term of up to six months.
Authorities have launched an investigation on the sale of vaccination slots after these were reportedly sold for as much as P12,000, depending on the brand.
No COVID-19 vaccine in the country has been approved for commercial use.
Officials reminded the public that vaccines from the government are free of charge.