House pushes seamless LGU vaccine drive
As soon as we were apprised that the indemnification fund is a requirement of the vaccine manufacturers, we wasted no time in filing House Bill 8648, which would allow emergency procurement of vaccines and provide the required indemnification fund.
The House of Representatives is set to approve on final reading by Monday a bill exempting local government units (LGU) from public bidding in purchasing Covid-19 vaccines, allowing them to negotiate and pay in advance directly to foreign manufacturers.
This was announced by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Friday, a day after the President signed the certification of urgency for Senate Bill 2057 and House Bill (HB) 8648, seeking to create a vaccine indemnity fund and exempt LGU from the procurement law.
“As soon as we were apprised that the indemnification fund is a requirement of the vaccine manufacturers, we wasted no time in filing House Bill 8648, which would allow emergency procurement of vaccines and provide the required indemnification fund. The bill is now up for second reading after it was approved by the Committee on Appropriations and sponsored in plenary,” Velasco said.
“With President Rodrigo Roa Duterte certifying the measure as urgent, the House is expected to approve HB 8648 on second and third reading by Monday,” the Marinduque lawmaker added.
The proposed Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021 seeks to exempt LGU from the procurement requirements under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act in the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, and other necessary supplies needed for inoculation in order to expedite vaccination processes among LGU.
The bill allows LGU to make an advance payment not exceeding 50 percent of the contract amount for the procurement of Covid-19 drugs and vaccines, unless otherwise directed by the President.
LGU must then negotiate with the manufacturers that the vaccines should be delivered within six months after the payment is made.
Last week, the House appropriations panel approved the measure except for its tax provisions, which was later approved by the House ways and means panel which proposed to exempt Covid-19 vaccines from customs duties, value-added tax, excise tax, and other fees as long as they are not for commercial distribution.
Aside from this, the top House leader said the Lower House is also eyeing to pass another measure he has filed, the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3, proposing a P420-billion economic stimulus package.
“We are even prepared to pass the Bayanihan 3, which proposes a P420-billion fund for the implementation of much-needed Covid-19 response and recovery interventions, including a P25-billion budget for Covid-19 treatment and vaccines. Rest assured that the House will continue to pass legislations that would help sustain the national government’s efforts in addressing the pandemic, so we can all return to normal at the soonest possible time,” he said.
The proposed third Bayanihan Law proposes that every Filipino would receive P1,000 and an additional P1,000 allowance for teachers and students. Displaced workers, meanwhile, will be provided P8,000 each.
The measure seeks to allocate P108 billion for additional social amelioration to impacted households; P100 billion for capacity-building for impacted sectors; P52 billion for wage subsidies; P70 billion for capacity-building for agricultural producers; and P30 billion for internet allowances to teachers and students.
Also included in the package are some P30 billion for assistance to displaced workers; P25 billion for Covid-19 treatment and vaccines; and P5 billion for the rehabilitation of disaster-hit areas.
At least 224 members from the House supermajority, minority, and independent blocs have joined him either as principal authors or co-authors of the bill.
“The House of Representatives has always been supportive of the national government’s efforts to fight Covid-19. This support has been manifested a number of times with the passage of the 2021 national budget, which includes a P72.5 billion allocation for vaccine procurement, as well as the Bayanihan 1 and 2,” Velasco said.