The House of Representatives has always been supportive of the national government’s efforts to fight COVID-19.
This support has been manifested a number of times with the passage of the 2021 national budget, which includes a P72.5 billion allocation for vaccine procurement, as well as the Bayanihan 1 and 2.
We are even prepared to pass the Bayanihan 3, which proposes a P420-million fund for the implementation of much-needed COVID-19 response and recovery interventions, including a P25-billion budget for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines.
As soon as we were apprised that the indemnification fund is a requirement of the vaccine manufacturers, we wasted no time in filing House Bill 8648, which would allow emergency procurement of vaccines and provide the required indemnification fund. The bill is now up for second reading after it was approved by the Committee on Appropriations and sponsored in plenary.
With President Rodrigo Roa Duterte certifying the measure as urgent, the House is expected to approve HB 8648 on second and third reading by Monday.
Rest assured that the House will continue to pass legislation that would help sustain the national government’s efforts in addressing the pandemic, so we can all return to normal at the soonest possible time.
