Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday, September 9, accused the national government of playing God as House leaders rejected vaccine czar Carlito Galvez’s explanation for his inaction on the requests of private groups and local governments to buy COVID-19 vaccine doses abroad.

The requested multi-party agreements (MPA), if signed months ago, would have allowed private groups and local governments to secure at least 10 million vaccine doses, said Rodriguez, the representative of Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd District.

Before the House committee on economic affairs, Galvez said he did not approve the requests because there was a supply shortage, and to protect local governments and private groups from overpricing, explanations the congressmen rejected.

“The national government is playing God here. They say they want to protect the LGUs (local government units), but the LGUs are protecting themselves. They have local autonomy. They know better how to be able to protect their money,” Rodriguez said.

The committee’s chairperson, AAMBIS-OWA Representative Sharon Garin, said the government’s last order for 400,000 vaccine doses was made on July 15, “but after that, a total of two billion doses were ordered by other countries.”

“That just shows that there will be a supply, and they just keep on ordering. Everybody knows there’s a shortage, but there are still orders coming in,” Garin said.

Galvez cited India where “there is some sort of a ban on the shipment of all Indian vaccines until 2022.”

He said vaccine manufacturers were also reluctant in becoming parties to the agreements, and the National Task Force against COVID-19 cannot approve the requests “without a direct contract.”

“Kasi maloloko po tayo ng mga manufacturer (We will be fooled by the manufacturers),” Galvez said.

He maintained that he could not sign the requests without “direct contracting,” and because of “due diligence” on his part.

Galvez said: “We cannot sign a contract without a definite supply. This is included in the terms. The terms include the indicative date. I’m just protecting the money of the LGU.”

He added, “And even if I signed these, still, there will be no supply… until 2022.”

But Galvez said the NTF has already signed “a lot of contracts with almost six companies,” and “more than 187 million vaccines will be coming in.” He did not identify the companies.

Rodriguez said he was concerned because the requests were submitted to the NTF as early as February, and Galvez did not sign these due to “the wrong reasons,” including the shortage of supplies and pricing concerns.

“If you signed them last March and April, then these MPAs would already have been sent to the suppliers and the vaccines would have arrived by now,” he told Galvez.

Rodriguez also called out Galvez as he cited provisions in a new law that allowed the private sector and local governments to help in speeding up the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

“These are the money of the private entities and the LGUs. The MPAs should be signed, and then help them be able to get good pricing. Help them with the supply. But you are saying, ‘Let us throw this to the wastebasket’ — this particular law that we worked hard for,” he said.

“I cannot fathom the reason why you have not signed the MPAs. The private companies and LGUs are using their own money. Explain to us your inaction and even failure to answer the letters of different local governments and companies,” he added.

Rodriguez cited some groups that supposedly submitted MPA applications to the task force months ago.

The Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASE) submitted its request so it could inoculate 125,000 workers waiting to work abroad.

Sakay Cooperative applied so it could provide vaccine doses for 100,000 motorcycle and delivery drivers across 33 cities.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) submitted its MPA application for 100,000 doses, 70% of which would be given to local governments.

SM Foundation applied for 200,000 doses, 50% of which would be donated, five months ago.

An Indian-owned Business Process Outsourcing company with 6,500 workers also applied.

Except for NGCP’s request, Galvez claimed none of the MPA applications reached the NTF. He also said the task force has communicated with NGCP but its request has not yet been approved.

Rodriguez asked the committee to invite representatives of the groups so they could shed light on the MPA applications and give their take on Galvez’s claim that the NTF did not receive their requests. – Rappler.com