Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) — President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent proposed measures that would ensure availability of national funds to compensate Filipinos in case they die or experience serious side effects after receiving COVID-19 shots.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Thursday in a Malacañang briefing that Duterte issued the certification for Senate Bill 2057 and House Bill 8648, both of which provide for the establishment of an indemnity fund and speedy procurement of vaccines in the country.
“Magandang balita po, pinirmahan na po ng ating mahal na Pangulo ang pagsertipika ng panukalang batas as urgent…magandang balita po, pinirmahan na niya as urgent iyong mga Senate [and House] bill na makikita nating makakatulong sa atin,” he said.
[Translation: Good news. Our beloved President has certified these measures as urgent…good news, he already signed as urgent these Senate and House bills that would definitely help us.]
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said his office has yet to confirm whether the certification of urgency was indeed signed, but Galvez stressed that he has already made the confirmation with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, a close confidante of Duterte.
Senator Sonny Angara on Tuesday sponsored Senate Bill 2057 or the proposed COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, consolidating all bills related to COVID-19 vaccines previously filed by other lawmakers. The measure seeks to provide ₱500 million for the COVID-19 National Indemnity Fund which will be sourced from the contingent fund of the national budget. State insurance agency PhilHealth was tasked to oversee its administration.
House Bill 8648 or the Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act of 2021, which also considers other COVID-19 vaccine-related provisions, has not specified the amount needed for an indemnification fund for adverse events. Both of these legislative measures ensure a smoother procurement and administration of vaccines in the country.
LGUs will soon be allowed to advance payments for COVID-19 vaccine
In the same briefing, Galvez said Duterte will also issue a signed a memorandum order within the day which allows local government units to procure and make advance payments for COVID-19 vaccines.
“Pwede na po nating ipahayag na baka ngayong hapon, kapag dumating iyong signed memorandum, ipapalabas na po iyong memorandum order,” Gavez said. “Ito po ay magandang balita lalo na’t malapit na ang advanced payment natin sa AstraZeneca.”
[Translation: We can already announce that this afternoon, when the signed memorandum arrives, we can issue the memorandum order. This is good news especially now that we can soon make our advanced payment with AstraZeneca.]
RELATED: LGUs announce signing deals for advance purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco lauded this move, noting that this is an “important step” in the government’s COVID-19 fight, as LGUs have recognized that “any delay would have serious consequences on how we move forward from this pandemic.”
“The President’s signing of the memorandum will also help our LGUs transition to some kind of normalcy as we aim to further open the economy to help the business sector reopen and reemploy those who have been displaced by the pandemic,” Velasco said in a statement.
