THE MANGAHAS INTERVIEWS

Secrecy over COVID-19 vaccine price contrary to public interest –IBP

The government’s refusal to disclose the prices of the coronavirus vaccines that it secured from manufacturers is contrary to public interest, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) underscored Tuesday.

Speaking on “The Mangahas Interviews,” IBP President Domingo Cayosa said the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines is “everybody’s concern.”

“Any contract, whether private or government, ay hindi niya puwedeng baguhin o i-violate ang mga nasa batas o nasa Konstitusyon. It is the contract that must adjust to the Constitution and the laws,” he said.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has repeatedly maintained that he cannot reveal the prices of the COVID-19 vaccines secured so far due to confidentiality disclosure agreements with manufacturers.

The IBP earlier said that there was a “compelling legal basis” for transparency on vaccine procurement.

“Naiintindihan natin si Secretary Galvez. Maaaring totoo na merong non-disclosure [agreement], but kung hihimayin natin ‘yung non-disclosure, it’s more on the negotiation, not the actual price,” Cayosa said.

“Kung pagpipilitan ‘yun, ‘yung confidentiality daw, that provision, in many cases decided by the Supreme Court, ay void ‘yun. Contrary to public policy. So hindi puwedeng magtago sa likod no’n,” he added.

Cayosa also said that the government can disclose the vaccine prices to authorities who are questioning the procurement, such as lawmakers.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered Galvez to provide Senate President Vicente Sotto III with details of the vaccine deals that the country has entered into after lawmakers grew skeptical at the vaccine czar’s insistence on keeping mum on costs.

Sotto later confirmed that Galvez was bound by confidentiality agreements.

“Malinaw din po ang karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino na malaman ang katotohanan at mga dokumento at records doon sa mga matters of public interest. Eh ito, COVID vaccine, pandemya, that’s definitely everybody’s concern. It is public interest,” Cayosa said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News