The Bacolod City government will allot an initial of P300 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine, Mayor Evelio Leonardia confirmed this yesterday, January 7, after signing a multi-lateral agreement and confidentiality agreement with AstraZeneca.
The mayor however did not disclose as to the total number of be allocated for the city because of the confidentiality agreement it enter with AstraZeneca.
City Administrator Em Ang, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) executive director, said the agreement that was signed by the mayor was only for the advance placement of the vaccines and it will be the national government that will continue with the negotiation.
Aside from AstraZeneca, the local government of Bacolod also hope to sign a same agreement with other pharmaceutical companies in the country that will approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Leonardia said that once the vaccine is made available it plans to give it to Bacolodnon for free. However, he said that some sectors may have to pay for it, especially private companies who are also making negotiations for their respective employees.
Meanwhile, the provincial capitol through Gov. Eugenio Lacson said that the request of private businesses to procure a separate COVID-19 vaccines can be included in the next advance purchase agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc.
