Senate clarifies LGU vaccine procurement rules

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri clarified that Senate Bill 2042, which allows local government units (LGUs) to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, will not give LGUs precedence over the national government in procurement.

LGUs must continue to follow national guidelines for vaccine deployment set by the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force against COVID-19.

Zubiri assured that frontliners will remain the top priority for vaccination, regardless of whether vaccines are sourced by the national government or LGUs.

Vaccines purchased by LGUs are intended to augment the national supply, and LGUs unable to purchase vaccines will still be covered by the national rollout.

This clarification comes amid concerns from the health sector about potentially inequitable distribution based on the ability to pay rather than need.

The bill also addresses LGUs' requests to be exempted from the lowest bid requirement for vaccine procurement, as vaccine availability is supply-driven.