MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the government’s proposed tripartite agreement with local government units (LGUs) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine manufacturers.
National Policy Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the initiative is similar to the tripartite agreement signed between the national government, the private sector and pharmaceutical companies last year.
“We are therefore pleased that when we submitted our proposal to President Rodrigo Duterte to forge tripartite agreements between LGUs, the national government, and vaccine manufacturers, he immediately approved it,” Galvez said.
“The parties came together to maximize their manpower, expertise and resources to ensure a coordinated, integrated and holistic COVID-19 immunization program,” he added.
Galvez said the tripartite agreement is aimed at providing unified and synchronized efforts among the government, LGUs and vaccine developers, to ensure the acquisition of sufficient doses of vaccines for the country.
“As we negotiate with these vaccine makers and place our orders for the Philippines, the tripartite agreements with the LGUs will urge pharmaceutical companies to expand their allocation for our country,” he said.
“By factoring in the orders of local governments in our negotiations with these pharmaceutical companies, securing deals with them would be easier,” Galvez added.
Galvez also noted that the national government will provide necessary resources to help LGUs purchase equitable vaccines for their constituents.
“With the vaccines’ limited supply and very high demand from nations across the globe, our country needs to come up with a united strategy to obtain a bigger share of the vaccines. This is what the tripartite agreements aim to achieve,” Galvez said.
“The national government recognizes the crucial role that LGUs have played in our nation’s battle against COVID 19, and soon, in the implementation of the national immunization program,” he added./PN
