Some provinces preparing own funds for COVID-19 vaccines —League of Provinces

Some provincial governments are readying their own funds to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for their respective constituents, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said on Tuesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, LPP president Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. noted that provincial governments should coordinate with the national government in the purchase of vaccines.

“Sa amin naman pong liga, 'yung mga ilang governors po na may kakayahan at may pondo ay naghahanda na rin po ng kanilang pambili,” Velasco said.

“Kailangan padaanin 'yun doon sa national government, sa Department of Health. Kailangan pong magkaroon ng tripartite agreement,” he added.

Citing the Commission on Audit, Velasco reminded that only the President can approve the purchase of the vaccines considering this transaction requires advance payments.

Section 88 of the Presidential Decree 1445 has prohibited advance payments on government contracts except for some conditions including those with the approval of the President.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a recommendation for local government units (LGUs) to enter into a tripartite agreements for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said last week.

Velasco also pointed out that cities and municipalities, except highly urbanized cities, should coordinate with provincial governments in making deals with manufacturers to avoid confusion and complication.

The Marinduque governor, who also chairs the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, reminded local governments to wait for the Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of these vaccines before rushing deals.

He suggested choosing vaccines that are already being used in countries where new variants of the coronavirus were detected to make sure that these will still be effective if used in the Philippines.

“Mahirap po tayong nagmamadali. This makes waste e. Malaking wastage 'yan. Sayang po ang pera kung hindi naman pala effective itong bakunang bibilhin natin,” he added.

Earlier, several local governments have signed deals with manufacturers for their own supply of COVID-19 vaccines, separate from the supply that will be provided by the national government.

Among these are:

• Baguio City
• Caloocan City
• Iloilo City
• Makati City
• Mandaluyong City
• Manila
• Navotas City
• Pasig City
• Quezon City
• San Juan
• Taguig City
• Valenzuela City
• Vigan City

At least 61 cities plan to buy COVID-19 vaccines for their residents, a government official said Monday.

At the Laging Handa briefing, League of Cities of the Philippines president Evelio Leonardia said the initiative already had a financing commitment of more than P10 billion. —KG, GMA News