Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) – A lawmaker has filed a bill to exhort the government establish cold storage facilities ahead of the COVID-19 vaccines’ arrival in the country.
Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo emphasized House Bill No. 8000 or Vaccine-Ready Philippines Act of 2020 is a big step in preparing the national government’s response in the arrival and mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
“This is a global problem. We have to be ready and to be proactive,” Castelo told CNN Philippines’ Rico Hizon on Monday.
The lady solon said the required temperature of cold storage facilities for vaccines must be between negative 10 and negative 50 degrees Celsius, in accordance with international standards.
Castelo added her proposed measure will urge the national government to allocate budget for these facilities.
“Sayang naman kung tayo ay makakatanggap lang, saka lang tayo kikilos. Tapos maso-spoil lang yung bakuna,” explained Castelo. “Imbes na tayo ay gumaling o makaiwas sa COVID-19, baka lalo tayong magkasakit at maperwisyo.“
[Translation: It will be a pity if we will only act once we received the vaccines. Then the vaccines will be spoiled. Instead of us recovering or avoiding catching COVID-19, we may become more ill and create more damage.]
Under the approved 2021 national budget by the House of Representatives, only ₱2.5 billion was allocated for COVID-19 vaccines. The Department of Health said an additional ₱10.5 billion budget is needed for the distribution of vaccines in the country next year.
Castelo assured the additional budget will be tackled in the bicameral conference, once the Senate approves the proposed 2021 budget. She said she will include an allocation for the establishment of cold storage facilities for the vaccines.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved the early payment for vaccines to manufacturers. Although he has not yet issued an executive order to legitimize the act, Duterte also supported the emergency use of vaccines, as authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
An emergency use authorization power gives the FDA authority to facilitate the availability of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines, during public health emergencies like the current pandemic.
National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said the earliest possible rollout of coronavirus vaccines in the country is from May to July 2021.
