Officials of both the province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are set to sign a multi-lateral agreement for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc.
Gov. Eugenio Lacson said the agreement that he will enter into between the province, the national government and AstraZeneca is for the purchase of 100,000 doses with a contract price of P27.5 million. This will cover 50,000 individuals.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia got a green light from the city council to secure COVID-19 vaccines from the same supplier during a special session last January 6.
The city council has also authorized Leonardia to sign the Confidentiality Agreement between AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Philippines) and the City of Bacolod on the proposed business arrangements for the availability and distribution of the vaccine.
The SP authority to contract with AstraZeneca came a day after the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), headed by Leonardia as national president, and the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment, chaired by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, met with top officials of AstraZeneca in a virtual dialog.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said the City Government will coordinate with the LCP to hold exploratory talks with as many other pharmaceutical companies regarding the procurement of COVID vaccines.
He revealed that the LCP officials and the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment will hold a virtual dialog with Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force, and officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 12 to discuss and synchronize the ongoing efforts of the national government and those of the cities for the vaccine procurement.
