Velasco: House to approve vax procurement bill Monday

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco expects the House to approve House Bill 8648, which aims to expedite the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines by local government units, on Monday.

The bill was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte and seeks exemptions from standard procurement requirements under Republic Act 9184 for emergency vaccine purchases.

House Bill 8648 also establishes a vaccine indemnification fund to cover adverse reactions to the vaccines.

Lawmakers hope to pass the measure before the end of February.