THE Bacolod City Council has approved the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for authority, and on a continuing basis, to enter into a contract with any pharmaceutical company legally operating in the country for the availment of Covid-19 vaccines duly approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration as acceptable for use by the city’s residents.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Monday, January 11, 2021, the mayor’s request was approved during the regular session Friday afternoon.
In his letter addressed to the City Council, the mayor said the availability of Covid-19 vaccines is limited, considering the massive nationwide demand for it.
“We are bound to encounter problems in its timely availment if we do not act now to ensure that we are on the list of local government units which are ready to avail of any vaccine supply that the national government shall be able to procure under existing policies and procedures, and subject to adjustments that the national government may eventually adopt thereon,” Leonardia said.
The City Council also earlier approved the request of the mayor for authority to sign the multilateral agreement to purchase in advance vaccines against Covid-19.
On January 7, Leonardia signed the multilateral and confidentiality agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. for the advance purchase of the vaccines.
The city government already allotted a total of P300 million for the advance purchase of the vaccines.
“This is to assure you that Bacolod City is on track and Bacolod is on time,” Leonardia said.
He said they do not have a clear cut date as to when the vaccines will arrive in Bacolod.
He added, for now, they could not give the exact number of vaccines for Bacolod due to the confidentiality agreement.
AstraZeneca plc is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Cambridge, England.
Once the vaccine against Covid-19 is available, the city government will prioritize medical frontliners, health workers, indigents, senior citizens, policemen and contact tracers.
Aside from the local budget, the national government will also assist with the Covid-19 vaccines. Some of the private companies in Bacolod City are also willing to shoulder the vaccines for their employees.