The Philippines will complete the funding requirements for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines by tapping multilateral banks such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank, together with local banks as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
This developed as the House Committee on Peoples Participation chaired by San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes lauded government moves in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that such efforts have been commended by other countries.
Dr. Aleli Annie Grace Sudiacal, representing the Department of Health’s Bureau of International Health Cooperation, disclosed that President Duterte has already approved the use of P2.5 billion in order to vaccinate some 22 million Filipinos for COVID-19 should one be made available.
Appearing during the recent virtual committee meeting of the people participation panel, Sudiacal said that the President has already given his approval to use the P2.5 billion allotted for the purchase of COVID-19 under the proposed 2021 General Appropriations Act through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
The House panel has been conducting meetings in a bid to coordinate and facilitate efforts in the development of vaccine for COVID-19.
Sudiacal explained that COVAX facility, organized by the World Health Organization, is a global sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of vaccines once they are licensed and approved. It is expected to provide vaccination for 3 to 20 percent of the population or 3.2 million to 22 million Filipinos.
According to her the COVAX facility pools together the world’s philanthropists, international non-governmental organizations and other groups to be able to talk to manufacturers to produce vaccines based on the need of a country, regardless of their economic standing. “This way we will be assured that manufacturers will produce the amount needed to vaccinate this eligible population,” she said.
She added that the Philippines is eligible under the COVAX system because it is a low middle income country which signified its intention to be part of the system. However, the country needs to pay US$1.6 to US$2 per dose to be able to be take part in it.
“As you all know we have RA 9184 or the Procurement Act which prohibits advance payment for something that is still not there. That is why we had to seek the intervention of the President and it’s very good news that the President has approved the use of the P2.5 billion allotted for the purchase of vaccines for the Philippines to have access to the COVAX facility,” she told the committee.
With the President’s approval, the country may get access for around 20 percent of the population once a vaccine or several vaccines become available. She said funding will come from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
In the same hearing, Department of Science and Technology Assistant Secretary Leah Buendia said her department is currently studying the application of three vaccines for phase 3 of clinical trials, namely Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia, and Johnson and Johnson from the United States.
Buendia clarified that the Philippines has yet to evaluate the vaccine developed by Pfizer because the company has not submitted its application to the department.
Robes for her part expressed elation over the latest vaccine development saying that it gives hope to the Filipino people who have long been hoping and praying for a vaccine for COVID-19.
“We would like to commend the tireless efforts of the President and the IATF to help our countrymen and find a vaccine. We are almost there I think. With these new developments, we will be able to go back to normal very soon,” Robes said.