Procurement law provision threatens LGUs vaccine purchase

Several Metro Manila mayors worry that their plans to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents could be hampered by the government procurement law.

According to Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the city government of San Juan already inked a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca.

However, the pharmaceutical firm is requiring a 20 percent down payment.

Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act prescribes that advance payment should not exceed 15 percent of the contract amount, unless otherwise directed by the President.

“’Wag naman sana kaming madamay pa sa kahit anong legal na problema, lalong-lalo na dito sa procurement law. We will follow what has to be followed,” Mayor Francis Zamora said.

“If the president will issue an executive order or if the Congress will pass a law to facilitate all of these, I think it can be done easily sapagkat tayo naman po ay nasa gitna ng pandemya,” he added.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said they have coordinated with Malacañang on the legal issues hounding the local government units’ vaccine purchase.

“Yesterday sinabi nga sa akin na there will be a document released. Wala namang magiging problema ang mga mayors dito,” Abalos said.

Earlier, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco filed a bill seeking to expedite the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by allowing localities to directly purchase from manufacturers without going through the process of public bidding.

House Bill 8648 or the proposed Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021 aims to provide exemptions to compliance by local government units with the procurement requirements under RA 9184.

Velasco said the proposed measure will ensure that the vaccines will be procured and administered in a fast and effective manner. He added the vaccination process is important to attain herd immunity.

He pointed out that LGUs play a significant role in ensuring that their respective constituents are protected against the disease as well as in the aspect of economic recovery.

Velasco said the bill will authorize LGUs to engage in an advance payment mechanism for purposes of procuring COVID-19 vaccines from foreign manufacturers.

This will also let provinces, cities and municipalities make advance payment not exceeding 50% of the contract amount for the procurement of the vaccines, unless otherwise directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News