(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 19 April 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Friday, November 20, 2020

Gov’t may secure advance procurement for COVID-19 vaccine by year-end

The Philippines may enter into an Advance Market Commitment through multilateral arrangement with the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the country’s finance managers for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Tuesday.

Reporting to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting on government response on the pandemic, Galvez said the government could secure advance procurement by the end of the year and proceed with the signing of loan agreements with the financial institutions.

The government could also tap various modes of financing including Private-Public Tripartite Agreement without cost with the government, Galvez said.

“So the private sector will finance it by buying directly to the vaccine company but with the regulation that the DOH (Department of Health) will be the one who will know, who will decide where the vaccine will be given.”

 After that, the task force will make a recommendation for an Emergency Use Authorization to be issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through an EO as proposed by the Health secretary.

The task force, he said, is eyeing 30 million to 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine next year once it is rolled out abroad and in the Philippines.

Currently, the task force, in coordination with vaccine experts is continuing its evaluation on the right vaccine to procure, Galvez told the President.

Galvez said experts have ranked 17 possible sources of vaccines from other countries. Out of the 17 candidate vaccines, nine are already in the Phase 3 clinical trial.

“At sa Phase 3 trial pong ito, tatlo po doon ang magkakaroon po ng trial dito po sa atin this coming December and January,” he said.

Galvez also reported vaccine commitments from private donors such as from businessman Enrique Razon, who is donating 300,000 doses. The Lucio Tan Group, San Miguel Corp., and Go Negosyo are also making donations.

Galvez said private entities are raising one to two million doses, in which 50 to 80 percent will be given in form of donation and the rest will be used for their poor essential workers. PND

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