LGU can buy own vaccines — DU30
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said local government units (LGU) are authorized to procure their own vaccines against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) but stressed that they should secure the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Now, let me be very clear. For the local governments, I have no objection if local government units will buy their own vaccines for their constituents. We are both from the government,” Duterte said in his speech in Jolo, Sulu.
Duterte’s statement came after many LGU, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR) already announced their plans to buy vaccines for their inoculation program.
“But my position is, whatever vaccine you will choose, clear it with the FDA. It’s a mandatory requirement. Other than that, I have nothing to do. That’s a requirement of law, just follow the law,” Duterte said.
I have no objection if local government units will buy their own vaccines for their constituents. We are both from the government.
At the same time, Duterte reiterated that Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. is doing everything to ensure the transparency in the procurement of Covid vaccines.
Procurement transparency
“Secretary Galvez, he is doing everything he can. I’m glad that the Senate investigation is finally over. At stake is my presidency here. There is no graft and I know Secretary Galvez. I was there in Marawi when we were fighting the Islamists and I saw that in him. That’s why, when he retired, I appointed him,” Duterte noted.
Duterte assured that the national government is ready to supply the vaccines for the LGU who have no capability to purchase their own.
Duterte noted that four of this batchmates died because of Covid-19.
“I am also afraid that I will be among the Class ‘72 in the College of Law who will expire,” he noted.
The government is expected to start the vaccination program mid-February with the arrival of the first batch of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, both Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Francis Pangilinan are willing to be inoculated publicly for Covid-19 if this would arouse Filipinos’ confidence in the vaccine’s safety.
“If it would help give confidence, yes, we can do it. We are open, we have no problem with it,” Sotto said in a radio interview on Saturday.
He also convinced the public that vaccines are safe — whatever the brand is or where was it developed.
“The most important thing is you will have the capability to fight (off the virus). It’s like in the case of a war, you have a helmet on,” he said.
Pangilinan on the other hand said he would have himself vaccinated in public if the FDA would already authorize and guarantee the safety and efficacy of a specific vaccine.
Sharon Cuneta too
He said he would also ask his wife, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, to join him in boosting public’s confidence and information dissemination on vaccines.
But my position is, whatever vaccine you will choose, clear it with the FDA. It’s a mandatory requirement.
In a related development, Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Juliette Uy said It would be easier to convince the Filipinos to be inoculated if the government’s information drive on Covid-19 vaccines would be explained in different dialects in the Philippines.
“Acceptability of the Covid-19 vaccines will grow if the science is laymanized and explained in the mother tongues of Filipinos,” she said.
More Filipinos, she asserted, would be willing to receive the vaccine shots if information on the vaccines would not be limited to English and Filipino.
“This is particularly important for the elderly and the migrants to the urban centers from the provincial hometowns,” she noted.