by PIA LAGUNA January 26, 2021 CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Various local government units in Laguna province have secured varying amounts to fund...
January 26, 2021
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Various local government units in Laguna province have secured varying amounts to fund its respective vaccination program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Some of the LGUs have already signed deals with vaccine suppliers while others are still in talks with pharmaceutical companies and the national government for the purchase of vaccines needed for the inoculation.
In Calamba City, Mayor Justin Chipeco announced that its city government has earmarked P200 million for the availment of vaccine doses for its constituents. Chipeco said the COVID-19 vaccination will be the city government’s top priority program for the year 2021.
“Ito po ay ating prayoridad sa taong ito upang masimulan na ang pagbibigay proteksiyon sa mga Calambeño sa sakit na dulot ng COVID-19. Umasa po kayo na ang pamahalaang lokal ng Calamba City ay gagawin ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang tayong lahat ay makabangon sa pandemyang ito,” said Chipeco in a Facebook post.
In Santa Rosa City, Mayor Arlene Arcillas signed a tripartite agreement with AztraZeneca and the national government on the availment of 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. According to Mayor Arlene Arcillas, the city's vaccination program which has an initial budget of P300 million would cover 150,000 residents.
She said that additional doses of the vaccines will be purchased from other pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, stressing that the city will follow the guidelines of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 on the roll-out of the vaccination program.
Santa Rosa is the first city in Laguna to sign a deal with AztraZeneca for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
Biñan City also alloted P150 million in funds for the availment of COVID-19 vaccines. In its local radio program, Mayor Arman Dimaguila said the city government has not yet signed any vaccine deal and still seeking to secure supplies of the vaccines from pharmaceutical suppliers such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
He said the city’s vaccination program will follow a prioritization arrangement in which vulnerable sectors including medical and health care workers, elderly residents, and other essential workers considered at high risk for COVID-19, will be prioritized for the vaccination.
The Cabuyao City government is also eyeing to provide vaccines for its residents. On January 11, the Cabuyao City Government Council passed a resolution authorizing its local chief executive, Mayor Rommel Gecolea to enter into agreements with vaccine suppliers for the availment and purchase of vaccines.
It has also approved the allocation of additional P50 million for the city's vaccination program and seeking to allot more funds through reprogramming of its current budget.
While the national government and the NTF Against COVID-19 lauded the efforts and initiatives of LGUs for their COVID-19 vaccination program, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez stressed that LGUs cannot procure and roll out vaccines on their own.
Galvez said vaccination efforts must be coordinated with the national government through the NTF and DOH in a tripartite agreement involving LGUs and pharmaceutical companies. (FSC)
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