League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) national president Mayor Evelio Leonardia has called for a special online general assembly of city mayors on Tuesday, January 12, to meet with the vaccine czar of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, and the director general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with the availment of COVID-19 vaccines on top of the agenda.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez has confirmed his attendance to the meeting and will present the national government’s roadmap to coordinate and assist LGUs in securing the vaccines, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said today, January 10.
Galvez had met with Leonardia and the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment on December 29 to discuss the timeline of vaccine availability based on ongoing negotiations with prospective pharmaceutical companies.
“During our talks with Secretary Galvez, he explained what vaccines will be available and the specifications of each type. Since securing vaccines is a top priority concern of all city mayors, we find it necessary that we hold this LCP general assembly for them to get first-hand information and participate in the formation of policies and procedures of the vaccine availment process,” Leonardia said.
FDA director general Rolando Enrique Domingo is also expected to attend the meeting to provide updates on the emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment, led by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, is set to push for the adoption of a resolution requesting for the LCP’s membership in the IATF-EID to ensure proper alignment of national and local vaccination efforts.
The assembly comes at the heels after several city mayors had already allocated budgets for vaccines. Leonardia, who is the mayor of Bacolod City, has allocated P300 million for his constituents’ vaccine needs.*