NDRRMC: LGUs MAY PROCURE COVID-19 VACCINE
MANILA - Citing the documentary bases on emergency responses, an official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) believes that the local government units may be allowed to utilize their local Quick Response Funds (QRF) to procure vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), provided that such inoculants are approved by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado has previously said that
he would leave it to the NDRRMC to determine whether or not local governments
could use their 30% QRF to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.
In an interview on Thursday, NDRRMC Executive Director
Ricardo Jalad said that three legal documents are already in place supporting
decisions of LGUs to do so, including the Republic Act 10121.
“Sa legal basis
na paggamit ng QRF as provided for by RA 10121, sinasabi diyan na ang Quick
Response Fund ay standby fund for relief and recovery programs, in order that
situations and living condition of people in communities and areas stricken by
disaster, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies maybe normalized as
quickly as possible [On the legal basis on the use of QRF as provided for by RA
10121, it is stated there that the Quick Response Fund is a standby fund for
relief and recovery programs, in order that situations and living condition of
people in communities and areas stricken by disaster, calamities, epidemics, or
complex emergencies maybe normalized as quickly as possible ],” he said during
the Network Briefing News with host Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.
A joint memorandum circular 2013-1 between the NDRRMC, the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) dated March 25, 2013, may also serve as basis as it
granted LGUs greater flexibility towards disaster mitigation, preparation,
response, rehabilitation, and recovery.
He added that the signed Proclamation No. 1021 last
September 16, 2020 may warrant the use
of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Fund to continue utilizing appropriate funds, including the Quick
Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain
the spread of COVID-19, monitor and control prices of basic necessities and
prime commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations.
“Sa palagay ko in
agreement naman tayo na ang pagbili ng bakuna ay makakatulong sa atin sa
pag-contain ng spread ng COVID-19 virus so pwedeng-pwede na 'yun na gamitin
'yung Quick Response Fund [I believe we are in an agreement that the purchase
of vaccine will help in containing the spread of COVID-19, so we can use the
Quick Response Fund],” he said.
Maasin, Southern
Leyte Mayor Nacional Mercado, who was also a guest on the same program, said
that their purchase of vaccines for their constituents would be a great help
especially for those who were not included under the priority list of Filipinos
to be immunized.
“Malaking tulong
na ma-utilize ng kanya-kanyang LGU ang kanilang QRF for possible procurement of
vaccine for our constituents [It will be a big help for LGUs to utilize their
QRF for possible procurement of vaccine for our constituents],” he said.
On Thursday, the FDA approved for emergency use the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
