'KAWAWA ANG WALANG CAPACITY'

Olivarez says NCR mayors wary of bill allowing LGUs to directly buy COVID vaccines

The mayors in the National Capital Region are apprehensive about the proposed House bill which seeks to allow local government units (LGUs) to negotiate directly with vaccine manufacturers for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, Metro Manila Council Chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said on Saturday.

"Pag-uusapan sa Senado, Congress po 'yan pero ang nakikita natin, 'yung balanseng distribution [ng COVID-19 vaccines] all over the country ang dapat," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Dapat makarating all over the country," Olivarez added.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has filed House Bill 8648 or the proposed Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021 which seeks to expedite the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by allowing localities to directly purchase from manufacturers without going through the process of public bidding.

According to Velasco, the proposed measure will ensure that the vaccines will be procured and administered in a fast and effective manner. He said the vaccination process is important to attain herd immunity.

Currently, LGUs are allowed to purchase COVID-19 vaccines through tripartite agreements with the national government and vaccine manufacturers.

"Ako po, personally, kasama dapat ang national [government] dito para magkaroon ng tripartite agreement para ang pagdi-distribute ng vaccine, balanse sa lahat," Olivarez said.

"Hindi 'yung may pera lang na LGU ang makakabili," he added.

Olivarez said this view is also shared by other mayors in Metro Manila.

"Kawawa ang mga rural areas na walang capacity to purchase," the MMC chairman said.

"Magkakaroon po kami ng position paper doon at ibibigay sa Congress," he said. —KG, GMA News