Private sector, LGUs to advance payment for AstraZeneca Covid vaccines on Feb. 24

Woman holds a vial labelled “COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” over dry ice in this illustration taken, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — The private sector and local government units (LGUs) will issue on February 24 an advance payment for 20 percent for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines it ordered, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed Friday.

“The payment of the AstraZeneca will be on February 24, the advance 20 percent, I believe,” Galvez said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

“This is the one being procured by the private sector and the LGUs. I believe the [doses for] LGU is 11 million and the private sector is six million,” he added.

This development comes as Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado called for the easing of limitations on advance payments for vaccine procurement.

The Government Procurement Reform Act only allows advance payment equivalent to only a maximum of 15 percent of the cost of government-financed projects.

The Philippine government, private sector and LGUs earlier signed a tripartite agreement to secure 17 million doses from AstraZeneca.  

Some 300 companies and 39 LGUs from across the country pitched in for the purchase of these vaccines.

READ: LIST: More LGUs, private firms ink deals for supply of AstraZeneca vaccine

gsg