MORE than five businessmen in Bacolod City already signified that they are willing to purchase vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for their employees.
This was stressed by Councilor Renecito Novero, member of Bacolod Covid-19 Vaccination Council (Covac), Wednesday, January 27, 2021, after they held a meeting with businessmen at the Bacolod Government Center in December 2020.
Novero said the businessmen signified their willingness to cooperate with the program of the government.
“We are happy for their cooperation to ensure that their employees will be vaccinated once the vaccine is available,” he said.
He added the city is now preparing the budget for the procurement of the vaccines needed for about 70 to 80 percent of Bacolodnons.
Once the vaccine is available, Novero said the businessmen can directly purchase the vaccine from the national or coordinate with the local government unit.
The city government earlier allotted P300 million for the advance purchase of vaccines against Covid-19, with an initial supply of 650,000 doses from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. this year.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia also signed the multilateral and confidentiality agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. for the advance purchase of the vaccines.
AstraZeneca PLC is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Cambridge, England.
Novero said they are also preparing the vaccination centers in various barangay health centers in the city.
He said they already inspected some of the health centers and they will also submit their recommendation to Leonardia.
Aside from vaccination centers, he added they are also preparing the information and education campaign in various barangays so that the public will participate in the vaccination program.