League of provinces supports bills allowing LGUs to buy COVID-19 vaccines directly

The League of Provinces of the Philippines on Wednesday said it is supporting bills in Congress that would allow local government units (LGUs) to directly buy COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers.

"Inatasan po tayo at ang mga probinsiya na magprepara ng mga vaccination plan. Ginagawa na po 'yan. Ang prayoridad po ngayon ay ang mga probinsiya na may high infection rate," LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Tinututukan at sinusuportahan namin ang bill ni Senator Imee Marcos at Migz Zubiri at ni Congressman Rufus Rodriguez na bigyan ng power ang mga LGUs na bumili ng bakuna na diretso," he said.

"Anyway, pera po ng LGU 'yon eh. At 'yun nga po, susundin lang namin 'yung kanilang mga procedures. Pero doon sa sektor na babakunahan ay hinihiling namin na bigyan kami ng karapatan na piliin 'yung sektor kasi pera po ng LGU 'yung gagamitin. Kailangan po alam nila kung saan gagamitin," he added.

On Tuesday, Senator Sonny Angara sponsored on the floor the consolidated bill seeking to expedite the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines and establish P500-million indemnity fund.

The bill also allows LGUs to purchase vaccines and ancillary supplies and services in cooperation with the DOH and NTF through multiparty agreements.

The LGUs will be allowed to make advance payments but they can only purchase vaccines and supplies for up to 50% of their target population. The 50% cap may be adjusted by the IATF depending on the supply.

At the House of Representatives, a bill seeking tax exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines purchased by LGUs has been approved by the Ways and Means committee.

Velasco said the provinces are counting on the national government to make good on its promise to help them have access to COVID-19 vaccines.

"Umaasa naman po ang provincial government sa national government kasi pinangako na nga po 'yon na may sufficient funds," he said.

"Iba-iba po ang kapasidad ng mga provincial governments at saka mga LGUs. 'Yung mga first class, second class provinces, 'yan po ang may mga pondo na puwede pong bumili ng malaki," Velasco said.

"Pero 'yung pababa na po, 3rd, 4th, 5th, eh kung ano na lang po 'yung makakayanan," he said.

"Pero 'yung amin pong position po diyan, ay talagang umaasa po kami kay [vaccine czar] Secretary [Carlito] Galvez at sa task force na sila’y magpo-provide ng bakuna at 'yan naman po ay nag-commit naman po sila sa amin," the LPP president said.

"Kaya nga po 'yung aming available na funds, actually nakatoka na po 'yan sa ibang proyekto o programa ay puwede naman po, puwedeng maglaan ang mga LGUs," he said. —KG/AOL, GMA News