Lawmaker: Govt cannot use NDA to hide vaccine deal info

A lawmaker asserted that the Philippine government cannot use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to withhold information regarding COVID-19 vaccine deals, emphasizing that such transactions involve public interest and funds.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. stated that the public's right to information on matters of national interest, including public health, should always be upheld.

Garbin's statement came in response to Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.'s claim that the pricing of COVID-19 vaccines could not yet be disclosed due to existing confidentiality agreements with pharmaceutical companies.

The lawmaker clarified that NDAs should not cover matters of public health and national interest, differentiating them from national security or trade secrets.

He further highlighted that the Filipino people have a right to know, especially when public health and taxpayer money are involved.

The Philippine government has allocated P82.5 billion for its COVID-19 vaccination program, with P2.5 billion from the DOH's 2021 budget and P10 billion from the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act.