Galvez says procurement agreements likely to be inked by January 2021

The Philippines is unlikely to ink most of the arrangements to procure vaccines against COVID-19 this year, the government reported, even as 80% of the available supply have already been procured by western countries.

Philippine vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday said talks are ongoing and are being sped up, but contracts are likely to be signed by January 2021.

"'Yun po ang nakikita po natin, na karamihan po sa mga ating pirmahan ay pinipilit po namin magkaroon kami ng initial success this December and mostly mga January," he said in a virtual briefing with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.

"Sa ngayon po, most probably baka magkaroon po tayo ng vaccine sa first quarter, most probably March, and then also mga second tranche is second quarter, third quarter, tsaka fourth quarter but we are expecting 'yung volumes ng ating mga vaccine will be coming at early third quarter," he added.

Galvez said the Philippines is now in the advanced stages of negotiations with five companies, and exploratory talks are ongoing with five others. The government is optimistic to finalize agreements with China's Sinovac next week.

At present, Galvez said the country is still waiting for the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the vaccines of the companies, a requirement of multilateral lending agencies for the Philippines to procure the vaccines.

"Pagkalabas kasi 'yung EUA, emergency use authorization ng originating country, 'yun ang pinaka-cue natin kasi with the regulatory requirement ng ating multilateral arrangement with Asian Development Bank at tsaka 'yung World Bank," he said.

"Lahat ng procurement natin will be through multilateral arrangement with the Asian Development Bank and also with World Bank and they require 'yung tinatawag nating stringent regulatory compliance," added Galvez.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III in November said some P73.2 billion has been allocated for the procurement of vaccines -- P40 billion of which sourced from multilateral agencies.

In the same briefing, Galvez said majority of the current supplies have already been procured by richer countries.

"Nakikita po natin na talagang sa ngayon, talagang may mga challenges po. Unang una, nakita po natin na talagang 'yung mga vaccines, 80% po ay nakuha na po ng mga mayayamang country but we are very hopeful na 'yung clarion call ng ating mahal ng pangulo na magkaroon ng equitable access ay ginagawa natin," he said. — RSJ, GMA News