Gov't can't use NDA to deprive public of info on COVID-19 vax deals —solon

The government cannot use its non-disclosure agreements with pharmaceutical firms in depriving the public of the details in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines considering that this concerns national interest and involves public funds.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. made the remark on Wednesday amid the insistence of vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. that they could not disclose yet the price of each brand of COVID-19 vaccine due to existing confidentiality disclosure agreements (CDA) with vaccine markers.

In a virtual press conference, Garbin, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, stressed that the right of the public to information on matters of national interest should always be granted.

"Hindi pwedeng itago ito on the guise of non-disclosure agreement because this does not include national security or trade secrets. This includes public health and national interest of the country," he said.

"So I think the main consideration here is the right of the Filipino people on the right information given the fact that what is at stake here is public health and the money that's being used borne out of public taxes," he added.

The government has set aside P82.5 billion for its massive COVID-19 vaccination program, of which P2.5 billion will come from the Department of Health's budget allocation for 2021, while the P10 billion will be sourced from the COVID-19 vaccination program of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act.

Meanwhile, the remaining P70 billion will be sourced from loans provided by multilateral lenders, the Philippines’ bilateral partners, and/or the domestic market.

Garbin pointed out that while the bulk of the funding for the COVID-19 vaccination program will come from loans, it will still be paid through public taxes.

"So hindi pwedeng isangga doon 'yung non-disclosure agreement ng gobyerno at ng mga pharmaceutical companies. And that right of public information is always guaranteed by the Constitution. So siguro dapat ito ang mangibabaw dito," he said.

Galvez earlier said that the Philippines stands to lose 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines if the prices of the vaccines will be disclosed at this point.

“Wala pong korapsyon sa ating negosasyon. Ang presyo po ng ating binibiling bakuna ay sakop ng CDA, kaya hindi po natin iyon puwedeng ilabas sa publiko," he said.

Galvez, however, assured transparency and accountability in securing COVID-19 vaccine deals, saying that onerous provisions cannot pass the scrutiny of the Finance department and of the financial institutions which will provide loans to the vaccine procurement.

Nevertheless, for the sake of transparency, President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized Galvez to disclose to Senate President Vicente Sotto III the details of the COVID-19 vaccine deals of the government.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February.—AOL, GMA News