City mayors to discuss vaccine procurement with Galvez, FDA
MANILA, Philippines — The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) will convene in an online assembly tomorrow to discuss measures in procuring anti-COVID vaccines for local government units (LGUs).
The assembly will be attended by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez and Food and Drug Administration director general Rolando Enrique Domingo, according to LCP national president and Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia.
Galvez earlier met with Leonardia and the LCP committee on vaccine availment to discuss the timeline of vaccine procurement and availability.
Domingo is expected to provide updates on the emergency use authorization for COVID vaccines.
“The meeting comes at a time when more and more LGUs, mostly composed of highly-urbanized cities, are allotting their own budgets to procure the vaccines,” Leonardia said.
He said securing the vaccines is a priority of all mayors and that the LCP general assembly is necessary for them to get first-hand information and participate in the formation of policies and procedures in the vaccine availment process.
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas, who heads the LCP committee on vaccine availment, will request for the group’s inclusion in the membership of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to ensure that national and local vaccination efforts are aligned.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo urged the government to ensure that all LGUs could avail of the vaccines.
Robredo issued the call following reports that 29 LGUs including Makati and Quezon City have set aside budgets for the vaccination of their residents.
She expressed hope the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines would be “more equitable.”
Robredo also urged private companies to shoulder the cost for the vaccination of their employees.
She said the government must come up with an effective information drive to convince the people to get themselves vaccinated.
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