Congress may skip bicam to fast-track approval of COVID-19 vaccine indemnification law —Angara

Congress may skip the bicameral conference committee deliberations to fast-track the approval of the measure seeking to establish a vaccine indemnity fund and expedite the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, Senator Sonny Angara said.

In a radio interview on Saturday, Angara said it is possible for Congress not to hold the bicameral meeting anymore for Senate Bill 2057 and House Bill 8648, which both provide for the indemnification fund and the speedy COVID-19 vaccine procurement.

Both bills have also been certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Posible rin 'yung wala nang bicam sapagkat it's a possibility na i-adopt na lang 'yung isang version ng isang Kamara, mas mapapabilis 'yung pagsasabatas nitong Senate Bill 2057, 'yung vaccination act," he said.

Senate Bill 2057 seeks to authorize the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) to undertake negotiated procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and the ancillary supplies and services for their storage, transport, and distribution.

It also allows local government units to purchase COVID-19 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.

A P500-million COVID-19 National Indemnity Fund will also be established under the measure and will only be used to compensate any inoculated person who will experience severe adverse effects or worse, death. 

Angara said the certification of urgency from the President will help in allowing Congress to fast-track the approval of the measure.

Certifying a bill as urgent allows Congress to approve the measure on second and third reading on the same day.

"Maaaring mangyari 'yan (approval) sa Lunes, maaaring sa Martes o sa Miyerkoles," Angara said.

"Pero siyempre, 'yun nga, medyo nagmamadali 'yung ating mga local government units sapagkat sila ay nababahala na hindi mapasa ito dahil February 24 ang kanilang deadline dito sa bayaran nila sa AstraZeneca. 'Yun ang kinontrata nila para magbigay ng bakuna sa kanila," he added.

If ever the measure is not enacted into law by February 24, Angara said a provision may be included to allow for its retroactive application.

"Ibig sabihin kahit 'yung mga kontrata ay nangyari before naging batas itong Senate Bill 2057, sakop pa rin niya 'yung mga kontrata na pinirmahan before ipasa ang batas," he said.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year. —KG, GMA News