BACOLOD CITY - The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) national president and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has created an LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment to ensure early access of cities to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
Leonardia said they need to strategize their efforts to ensure that constituents have early access to quality and affordable vaccines. “But we need to gather as much information as possible to guide our decisions,” he added.
The primary function of the Committee is to coordinate with the COVID-19 National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, the Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Budget and Management, and other concerned agencies in order to determine and recommend the most appropriate courses of action to facilitate the availment of the COVID-19 vaccines for cities.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, former LCP president, was appointed by Leonardia as chairperson of the Committee.
The other Committee members are national vice chairman and General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera; vice president for Luzon and Balanga City Mayor Francis Anthony Garcia, Region 9 representative and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco, focal mayor for Health and Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson.
The Committee is expected to submit its recommendations to Leonardia on or before January 8.
“Proper coordination with concerned agencies is a must. This is, after all, a top priority for all of us,” Leonardia said.
Aside from coordinating with concerned government agencies and key officials, the LCP Committee is also tasked to conduct “exploratory talks” with qualified pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, AztraZeneca, and GlaxoSmithKline in January next year and carry out a collective and advantageous vaccine availment by the cities.
Leonardia believes that while the national government is committed to provide vaccines nationwide, it is to the best interest of the cities that they are ready to supplement, augment, and complete the national vaccination program.
He said that this is all a matter of teamwork to ensure the people’s health and safety.
Meanwhile, the LCP, recognizing the urgency of vaccine availment, has also scheduled a dialog with Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez on January 12 where city mayors nationwide are expected to participate.