Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) — The League of Cities of the Philippines said local chief executives have already organized to come up with ways on how they could help in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
“On our part, our intention is to be able to supplement, augment, and complete whatever may be lacking,” LCC president and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia told CNN Philippines’ News.PH.
Leonardia said they have created a committee that will explore and formulate ways on how they could assist in the procurement and distribution of vaccines in cities across the country. But he said nothing is definite yet because the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has yet to issue guidelines on the matter.
He said they are also preparing to set aside an amount from their local funds that may be tapped by the national government in case the need arises.
“We are trying to come up with something that is collective and advantageous for all the LGUs [local government units] and the cities, so that when the IATF comes up with clear-cut guidelines then we should just be able to adapt to that,” Leonardia explained.
The government already said that the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines will be done on the national level. To support this, city leaders have come up with plans in the negotiations with developers and the distribution process.
The group is scheduled to meet with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. next month to discuss the matter.
The Food and Drug Administration said up to three vaccine candidates may be cleared to hold clinical trials in the country by January, adding that no vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization yet.
