Money not a problem this time?

 “It's all about the money.”

—Joe Jackson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE find it so surprising that no local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines has, so far, opposed the proposal of the national government for the LGUs to directly negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies and purchase their own supply of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.

In many projects and transactions that needed a budget worth hundreds of millions of pesos, LGUs always dilly-dallied if not lobbied or sought succor for a “counterpart” funds, among other budgetary assistance schemes, from the national agencies concerned.

Or entered into a loan agreement only in transactions allowed and provided by law.

Not this time. 

Are they now awash with cash that the quick reaction by most LGUs from “vaccine czar” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr’s proposal, which was supported by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was “we have funds for the purchase of the vaccines and we are ready to purchase them” or words to that effect?

It began in an online briefing on December 19, 2020 when Galvez said, “I have raised it (with) the President but we are considering what he has been saying that it should not be that some barangays or towns might be left behind because they (cannot)afford to buy the vaccine. That’s what we’ll look into because we don’t want to (commit) injustice to those people who cannot buy it.”

He explained: “What we will do is to balance it. We can allow it provided that the (instructions) of our President to prioritize the poor, the health workers, our service (employees) and front-liners could be complied with.”

 

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We had expressed concerns and misgivings that only rich cities like Puerto Princesa (which reportedly was prepared to spend some P100 million to buy vaccines for its residents), Makati, Quezon, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Manila might afford it if Galvez’s challenge would be accepted.

We emphasized that it might discriminate the country’s poorest provinces like Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Saranggani, Northern Samar, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Norte, Siquijor, Agusan del Sur, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Mt. Province, Western Samar, North Cotabato, Catanduanes, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Sorsogon.

It turned out most LGUs were willing to join Galvez in Salome’s dance.

It’s a good thing that concerned lawmakers at the House of Representatives have decided to remove from the bill of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco the power to allow LGUs to directly procure COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers.

LGUs now “may purchase, only in cooperation with the DOH (Department of Health) and NTF (National Task Force) Against COVID-19, through a multiparty agreement which shall include the DOH and the relevant supplier of COVID-19 vaccine or ancillary supplies or services” under the amended version of House Bill No. 8648 contained in the committee report of the House committee on appropriations.

 

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The bill’s original version, also known as the Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021, explains that LGUs “may directly purchase vaccines for the protection against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and secure other goods and services necessary for their storage, transport, distribution and administration, as the need arises in the most judicious, economical and expeditious manner.”

To expedite the procurement process of COVID-19 vaccines, the bill reportedly allows the DOH and the NTF to engage in “negotiated procurement under emergency cases.

If passed into law, the measure would reportedly waive the phase 4 clinical trial requirements for COVID-19 medication and vaccines to expedite the procurement process.

It was reported that the bill also provides an indemnification fund for individuals who would experience “adverse events” after being inoculated.

Under the bill, LGUs are to make advanced payments for the purchase of vaccines but would be limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the total amount.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)