Makati, Valenzuela LGUs won’t bypass national gov’t on COVID-19 vaccine procurement — Binay, Gatchalian

Mayors Abigail Binay of Makati City and Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela City on Tuesday said they will fully cooperate with the national government in procuring COVID-19 vaccines.

Binay and Gatchalian made the assurance in response to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarification that only the national government can buy COVID-19 vaccines which have been issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“LGUs will procure the vaccine with the national government. This means over and above the order of the national government, the LGU will also order additional vaccine [supply], coursed through the national government,” Binay said in an ANC interview.

“We are speaking directly to pharmaceutical only to indicate our intent to procure. Kami sa LGU, naninigurado lang. Hindi naman namin pinangaungunahan ang national government. The important thing is we are procuring,” Binay added.

Makati City has already earmarked P1 billion for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for around 500,000 of its residents, prioritizing health workers and senior citizens.

Gatchalian echoed Binay, saying that Valenzuela City stands ready to share the cost of COVID-19 vaccines that will be used on the city’s residents.

“I agree with Mayor Binay that the LGU will complement and supplement whatever the national government will be doing. We don’t mind putting aside funds [out of the city’s pocket] so we can get better terms for the COVID-19 vaccine that will be provided,” Gatchalian also said in an ANC interview.

But unlike Binay, Gatchalian said that he has yet to talk to pharmaceutical companies in connection with a COVID-19 vaccine supply.

“There are no discussions because we are aware that it should go through the Department of Health and FDA to be sure that legality and other requirements are sufficiently met,” Gatchalian added.

Vergeire earlier said COVID-19 vaccines can only be available commercially if the FDA already issues a certificate of product registration—a situation that is unlikely for now since the most advanced COVID-19 vaccines are just done with Phase 3 of the clinical trials.

The Philippines has recorded 478,761 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 448,279 recovered while 9,263 died.

The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 21,219. — RSJ, GMA News