Manila Bulletin
LGUs may directly negotiate purchase of vaccines -- DILG
Local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines are permitted to negotiate with any pharmaceutical company for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated that LGUs must first coordinate with the national government before finalizing any agreement.
This coordination is necessary to ensure the quality and proper distribution of vaccines across the country.
Furthermore, the national government needs to verify that only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines are purchased by LGUs.
DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya clarified that LGUs have the freedom to choose which pharmaceutical firms they want to engage with.
This statement followed an instance where Cainta Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto halted negotiations with a Chinese pharmaceutical firm due to constituent concerns about Chinese vaccines.
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Local government units (LGUs) are prohibited from independently procuring and distributing COVID-19 vaccines, as they must coordinate with the national government, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
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House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez is urging the national government to allow local government units (LGUs) to directly purchase COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers.
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Senators proposed allowing local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to directly negotiate and secure their own COVID-19 vaccine deals to expedite the inoculation of Filipinos.
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The Taguig City government has secured a deal with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to procure COVID-19 vaccines for its residents.
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