The past couple of days saw politicians from rich local government units in what is more like a competition as to who gets to raise money first to buy vaccines against the highly-infectious virus from Wuhan, China.
More than a competition, the vaccine procurement race among LGUs turned into a PR battleground for grandstanding politicians bragging on the capability of their province, city or municipality to buy what is required for a free ride to publicity.
There is nothing wrong buying vaccines for their constituents, but I find it rather awkward for these politicians to brag too much for something we all know is fueled by Some Other Purposes – SOP for brevity.
I read a news article about a city sealing a deal with an international biopharmaceutical deal for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, which runs against the statement of the Department of Health which said: Only the national gov’t can buy COVID-19 vaccines under emergency use but LGUs can partner.
Beyond the PR stunts of these mayors from rich cities, it also decimates other LGUs who are not even financially capable of raising enough resources to buy vaccines for their local folks.
This is where the national government and the billionaires club should step in.
The national government should prioritize low-ranking LGUs in its COVID-19 immunization plan. It should not be selective as it has always been. In fact, LGUs which didn’t deliver electoral numbers have often been ignored – and even those with politically negligible numbers of voters.
Investors should also consider subsidizing part of the cost of COVID-19 vaccines for the local folks in the place where they do business.
Another humble proposal is for the rich provinces, cities and towns to adopt poor localities through a sisterhood agreement. Makati City for one has an existing sisterhood pact with 4th class municipality of Baras, so as Manila, Quezon City and other Metro Manila cities.
Under the local government code, an LGU to LGU arrangement is allowed.
Congressmen should also try to show some compassion by waiving their SOPs, in the same manner that national government officials forming part of the government COVID-19 response task force should at least abstain from corruption.
Masyado nang malaki ang kinita niyo mula pa noong Marso. Mula sa mga overpriced at palpak na test kits from China, the SAP brouhaha, the PhilHealth anomaly, hoarding of face shields, operation of clandestine hospitals administering unregistered vaccines, smuggling of COVID-19 medical logistics, COVID-among many other dubious transactions related to the pandemic scare.
Siguro naman busog na kayo.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved a deal that would allow local government units to procure vaccines against the novel coronavirus through tripartite agreements.
The Philippines is expected to begin its COVID-19 vaccination program in the second quarter as the first batch of its order from AstraZeneca is scheduled to arrive in May.