Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri prodded on Tuesday, August 17, the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 to expedite the approval of the national government's agreements with local government units and private companies seeking to purchase vaccines.
In making the appeal, he filed Senate Resolution No. 858 which calls on the Senate Committee of the Whole to look into reports that the multi-party agreements (MPAs) submitted by LGUs and the private sector have been left unsigned and are languishing on the national government’s end, directly affecting the country’s vaccine rollout.
“I’ve had exhaustive consultations with several LGUs and the private sector, and their number one concern has been the delay on delivery and the unavailability of vaccines in far-flung areas. They have applied for MPAs with the national government, but these have remained unsigned and haven’t been acted upon," Zubiri said in a statement.
The Senate leader pointed out that the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 (Republic Act No. 11525), enacted last February, has already authorized the Department of Health (DOH) and the NTF to negotiate and approve the terms and conditions of procurement on behalf of LGUs and private entities.
Authorities, to recall, asked lawmakers that the vaccine procurements by LGUs and the private sector be done thru a tripartite agreement with the national government and vaccine makers. They said it would also ensure that the vaccinations will be aligned with the guidelines of the national government.
According to Zubiri, many LGUs and some 300 private companies are still awaiting MPAs for the purchase of at least 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccines.
His bailiwick Bukidnon province, for instance, allotted P500 million to buy vaccines for 250,000 recipients, but has not yet purchased due to the national government's supposed inaction on their MPA.
“Here’s a situation where you have LGUs already administering the vaccines, and they are willing to buy more vaccines for their constituencies, at no cost to the national government. Hindi na kailangang maghanap or mangutang pa ang national government para sa pangangailangan ng mga LGUs (The national government need not look or loan funds for the LGUs' needs) for their vaccines...Our LGU has not been able to do so due to the non-action on these MPAs with the national government," he said.
“I’ve spoken to several other LGUs that are in the same situation. That is why I’m appealing to the IATF to immediately release all the MPAs pending with the NTF and the DOH," Zubiri added.
Zubiri sought an explanation from officials on the delay in the signing of the MPAs. It was "frustrating", he said, that "no one knows what's causing the delays", Zubiri said.
“If there’s a problem with the MPAs, sana malinawan na po ang mga (they should clarify it with the) LGUs and private groups, so we can find solutions and move forward with their procurements as soon as possible," he said.
“Mayroon pang higit 63 milyong Pilipino na hindi pa bakunado. Napupuno na ulit ang mga COVID ward ng mga ospital. Ang daming gustong magpabakuna, pero kulang ang bakuna (Over 63 million Filipinos remain unvaccinated. COVID-19 wards of hospitals are again overwhelmed. Many want to get vaccinated, but we lack the vaccines)," he lamented.
Zubiri reiterated that the national government should allow LGUs an private companies to source vaccines for their constituents and employees, to help achieve the government’s goal of achieving herd immunity against COVID-19.
“We really need to fast-track our vaccination, especially since pataas na naman ang trend ng positive cases, kahit na maraming lugar ang naka-ECQ (positive cases are in an upward trend, even if . And with the rise of the Delta variant, it should be all hands on deck in helping our government fight the pandemic,"
Over 12 million Filipinos have so far been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19. The government is eyeing to inoculate 77 million by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity.