To express their resolve in containing the rampaging coronavirus disease (COVID-19), lawmakers must pass a law against those who are taking advantage of the situation and spreading false information by including such criminal behavior in the death penalty bill.
Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go stressed this after Senator Panfilo M. Lacson delivered a privilege speech stating that senators could have been had by some persons in the government panel during the two-day public hearing last week by the Senate Committee of the Whole on government plans to roll out COVID-19 vaccine.
"Some people in the panel of our resource persons who are in charge of the vaccine program were not forthright and honest in their responses to the questions raised by the members of this august chamber,’’ Lacson said.
Because of some questions regarding the actual final prices, if any, of vaccines against COVID-19, Go urged the agencies involved to be transparent and prudent in using the government's limited resources.
‘’I trust that our Vaccine Czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, will always uphold the interest of the Filipino people when negotiating for our vaccines. After all, these procurements by the national government are done through multi-lateral agreements with fund managers, such as the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
‘’Nevertheless, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, let me remind the national government that they are still mandated to ensure proper and full accounting of public funds used and these should be disclosed to the public at the proper time without compromising the ongoing negotiations,’’ he stressed.
Go then asked Galvez to explain the process further without compromising ongoing efforts to procure and administer as many vaccines as needed for the Filipino people.
‘’And out of transparency, maybe we can ask him if he can disclose the prices at the appropriate time to allay any doubts of the public, not only of Sinovac, but of all vaccines,’’ he said.
‘’I continue my appeal to concerned authorities to expedite the process of acquiring vaccines and collaborate with the private sector and LGUs for the proper implementation of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap,’’ he added.