CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno Monday, December 21, said local government units (LGUs) should be working together with the National Government on vaccine distribution rather than purchasing doses of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines.
Moreno said it will lead to a competition between the LGUs if they decide to acquire their own vaccines.
"I'm sure Secretary (Carlito) Galvez would not want the LGUs to compete, kay kung mag compete kana, it's going to be a sellers' market," Moreno said.
"Lisod kaayo nga mag-ija-ija ta diha kay unsa ba ang data? Although, expectedly, ang rollout ana local gyud. Dili na sayon kay it has to be carefully designed. Lahi ni sa testing," he added.
He added that the key cities such as Manila, Cebu and Davao are expected to be prioritized when the Covid-19 vaccines became available next year, but he said Galvez, the chief implementer of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, would be "open to highly considering" Cagayan de Oro City given its location.
"Ang DOH naa na biya na sila'y mga record sa mga vaccine activities sa MRSIA, sa polio, etc. Kahibalo naman na sila sa Manila kinsa ang mga LGUs nga maayo mo-implement ana," Moreno said.
"Sigurado man ko kay syempre katong LGU nga hibalo mag implement sa mga vaccination programs will likely be those who will be the first nga DOH will tap kay maayo na mag implement," he added.
The mayor is confident that Cagayan de Oro will be considered one of the cities who will be prioritized for Covid-19 vaccine distribution as the city is organized in terms of vaccination activities.
Moreno also identified the problem of availability since the Philippines is not the only country interested in purchasing the Covid-19 vaccines.
"Ang problema ani is how much will the national government order. Na-anticipate na niya nga dili nila mapalit tanan," Moreno said,
He added that if some LGUs plan to purchase vaccines, it should be from accredited brands.
"If ever moapil ang LGU, then kinahanglan naay sistema kana para the LGUs will not be competing with each other. Kay if there will be competition, everybody loses," Moreno said.