House leader urges gov’t to allow LGUs to procure COVID-19 vaccines

House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez is calling on the national government to allow local government units (LGUs) to directly procure vaccines against COVID-19 from manufacturers.

Rodriguez's appeal is contained in House Resolution 1460, which was filed after the House leader also urged the government to permit private companies to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.

In both his appeals, Rodriguez invoked the constitutional right of every Filipino to health.

He pointed out that LGUs should be allowed to procure their own vaccines as the national government only shoulders the vaccination for 30 to 50% of the country's population.

Further, Rodriguez said more than 30 provinces and cities in the country have already set aside funds for purchasing vaccines, with Makati City, Quezon City, and Taguig City allocating P1 billion each.

Even small provinces like Biliran and Eastern Samar have allocated amounts for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, with P100 million and P500 million, respectively.

"During these trying times, LGUs should be given authority to directly purchase vaccines provided that these vaccines are already approved by or given emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration," Rodriguez said in his resolution.

"Coordinated proper vaccination programs by the LGUs will significantly aid the government in its pursuit to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, especially regaining some semblance of normalcy with businesses bouncing back and ultimately placing the economy well on its way back to recovery," he added.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon made a similar plea during the Senate hearing on the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Monday.

"Allow and authorize not only the private sector but also the LGUs to be able to deal directly with the supplier. If the supplier would not want to deal with us, that's another matter, we don't have control over that," he said.

The Philippine government plans to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year and the earliest possible arrival of COVID-19 vaccines may happen by February 20, according to vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News