Solon says tripartite deal in purchasing COVID vaccines ‘unavoidable’

A tripartite agreement—one that includes the national government in local governments' negotiations with pharmaceutical firms—is essential to achieve an orderly procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, Quirino Representative Junie Cua said on Wednesday.

Cua made the remark as he sponsored House Bill 8648, which seeks to expedite the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. He said the measure is a "legislation that we must all support" amid the health crisis.

During the interpellation period, Bukidnon Representative Manuel Zubiri asked Cua if the local government units can now directly purchase COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers, even without entering into a tripartite deal.

Cua replied that having a tripartite deal is unavoidable.

"In order to put some order in the procurement system, it is unavoidable that this be done through a tripartite, at least, or a multilateral agreement simply because the pharma companies would not want to deal with 1,600 municipalities, 80 plus provinces all for that matter... even barangays numbering about 44,000..." Cua said.

Cua said it would be "unruly" for the manufacturers and for the national government if there is no agreement.

The proposed measure aims to provide exemptions to compliance by local government units with the procurement requirements under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Cua said a request has already been made to certify the measure as urgent. — BM, GMA News