CALOOCAN CITY, Aug. 21 (PIA) -- Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday pushed to include a budgetary allocation of at least P5-billion for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines in the the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2.
“I think part of the funds that will be utilized for Bayanihan 2 will be set aside. This was of course unofficially mentioned within our chat groups, it will be set aside for purchases of vaccines,” Zubiri told the PIA-NCR.
While economic recovery remains the main aim of Bayanihan 2, Zubiri said, the bill also addresses the country's more immediate medical needs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The senator introduced an amendment to include the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines in the government's immunization program.
At the same time, the ammendment seeks to allow private entities to conduct research, develop, manufacture, import, distribute or sell COVID-19 vaccine sourced from registered pharmaceutical companies, subject to the provisions of this Act and existing laws, rules and regulations.
The Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Bayanihan 2 in an extended Session on Thursday, Aug. 20.
Citing a huge demand for COVID-19 vaccines, he said the Philippines cannot afford to wait for the approval of the 2021 national budget to purchase them.
He said part of the initial allocation for pandemic-hit industries under Bayanihan 2 could be diverted to vaccine purchase.
Zubiri also said that lawmakers could urge the Department of Finance to allow them to insert more funding for the procurement of vaccines under Bayanihan 2 during the bicameral conference committee.
The senator meanwhile reminded the government to exercise caution in selecting which vaccines to purchase, as over 100 candidate vaccines are undergoing clinical trials.
He said efficacy is a crucial factor in the selection of the vaccine that the government should procure and distribute to the Filipino public.
“Let’s continue with the testing, let’s follow science, let’s follow the reports given to us by the WHO (World Health Organization) about the efficacy of these vaccines,” he added. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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