City mayors seek urgent Palace action to buy vaccines

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Tuesday said the cities need the intervention of President Rodrigo Duterte to buy coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.

“With his authority to allow advance payment, our local vaccination program can be set in accelerated motion,” Leonardia, national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), said in a statement.

The LCP had appealed to the Office of President to issue an executive order to authorize city mayors to make advance payments for the Covid-19 vaccines contracted by city governments as adopted in the League’s Resolution No. 2021-01 passed on February 4.

The members are seeking urgent action soon, the LCP added.

During its Special General Assembly last Jan. 12, the city mayors agreed to partner with the national government for the Covid-19 vaccination program, and the LCP took initiatives in encouraging cities to procure their vaccines to ensure that the target population get immunized.

Several cities have entered into tripartite agreements with AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical Philippines Inc. under the “A Dose of Hope” program last January 14.

Bacolod has programmed a budget of PHP300-million for the procurement of vaccines. Initially, the city has secured 650,000 doses from AstraZeneca.

Presidential Decree 1445 provides that local government units need an express authorization and issuance from the President such as an executive order allowing them to procure vaccines and proceed with the required advance payment market provision in their respective agreements with the pharmaceutical companies.

Last December, Leonardia formed the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment for the city mayors to strategize efforts to ensure their constituents have early access to quality and affordable vaccines.

The body is tasked to coordinate and consult with the Covid-19 National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Budget and Management, and other related agencies; to carry out collective and advantageous vaccine availment by the cities; and undertake other activities related to vaccine procurement. (PNA)