HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday said the bill seeking to expedite the procurement and administration of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines and providing PHP500-million indemnity fund is now expected to be enrolled for President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s signature.
Romualdez made the statement after the House of Representatives on Tuesday night adopted Senate Bill (SB) No. 2057, or the proposed COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
“We, in the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, are in full support of President Duterte’s mission to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all Filipinos the soonest time possible. We are willing to work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to help the President fulfill this mission,” Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, said.
He said the House of Representatives, voting 225 affirmative and zero negative votes with six abstentions approved on third and final reading its version of the measure under House Bill (HB) No. 8648 ahead of the Senate last Monday.
But Romualdez said the Velasco leadership opted to adopt the Senate version to avoid a bicameral conference committee meeting and speed up the legislative process.
“Recognizing the need to expedite the importation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines, the House of Representatives has acted with dispatch on the measure that seeks to give compensation to persons who may develop serious side effects from the vaccine,” Romualdez said.
Velasco, Romualdez, and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano principally authored HB No. 8648
“For acting on an urgent matter in so short a time, I thank my fellow House Members who actively participated in the committee and plenary deliberation despite the restrictions brought by the pandemic,” Romualdez said in commending his colleagues for waiting the Senate version Tuesday night.
Under the approved measure, the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Task Force against COVID-19 are empowered to negotiate the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and the needed supplies and services for their storage, transport and distribution for the national government, as well as local government units (LGUs) and the private sector.
LGU’s are authorized to directly procure ancillary supplies and services necessary for the storage, transport, development, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines through negotiated procurement.
It exempts compliance by LGUS with the procurement requirement under Republic Act (RA) No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act as well as from customs duties and related taxes on the importation of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the speedy procurement and effective administration of vaccines against the deadly disease.
The bill also provides a PHP500-million indemnity fund to compensate any inoculated person who subsequently experiences serious adverse side effects or worse, death. (Press Release)
