Tripartite deal for vaccines, proof of Filipino’s Bayanihan spirit --- PRRD
MANDALUYONG CITY (14 JANUARY 2020)--- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday lauded the signing of a tripartite agreement among the national government, local government units, private sector, and vaccine manufacturer which will secure an additional 14.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company Astrazeneca.
The total doses under the tripartite scheme has now reached to 17 million doses, augmenting the country's vaccines amid the limited supply in the global market.
In November 2020, the private sector, national government and AstraZeneca inked a similar tripartite deal, for around 2.6 million doses. Half of the procured doses from the private sector will be used to inoculate the personnel of the donor companies, while the other half will be donated to the national government.
“Our tripartite agreement is a true showcase of our unity of purpose and principled partnership benefiting our public. This is Bayanihan at work,” Duterte said in a taped message.
The second wave of the multi-stakeholder initiative dubbed “a dose of hope,” was participated in by 39 LGUs and over 300 private companies.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. National recovery is within sight. As we bounce back and heal as one, I commend the business community and the LGUs, for your ramping of support for our nation's fight against COVID-19,” the President added.
During the signing, AstraZeneca Philippines Country President Lotis Ramin committed to abide by the country’s vaccine regulations, and to closely work with the government during the rollout of the nationwide inoculation program.
“AstraZeneca maintains our strong commitment to maintain broad and equitable access to the vaccine at no profit, for the duration of the pandemic. We are working closely with the regulatory authorities to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine lives up to the highest safety standards, and its introduction complies with healthcare regulations in the Philippines,” she said.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion emphasized the importance of securing vaccines in the fight against COVID-19.
“The solution really is the vaccine. Testing, social distancing, and wearing of masks will provide us to coexist with the virus, but at the end of the day, we have to eliminate the virus; and that's why the private sector, the LGUs and the national government (are) passionate in wanting to see these vaccines arrive as soon as possible,” Concepcion said.
For his part, vaccine czar and National Task Force against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. acknowledged the crucial role of all stakeholders in the tripartite agreement, which he said will be the key in defeating COVID-19.
“We acknowledge the crucial role that our LGUs and the private sector have played in our National Immunization Program. With your continued support, we will be able to identify, validate and respond to the needs of our priority beneficiaries based on our geographical and sectoral strategy,” Galvez said.
“(Likewise), the national government would also like to express its gratitude to AstraZeneca for allowing this novel tripartite agreement to happen. We have no doubt that this partnership, which will enable us to save more than eight million lives from the menace of the virus, will be a resounding success,” he added.
Overwhelming support from LGUs, private sector, international partner
"Today is the beginning of a new chapter -- one that we hope will usher in a better year for all of us in terms of finally addressing the pandemic. With millions of Filipinos eagerly awaiting for a vaccine, mass vaccination will be a priority and joint efforts among several private and public sectors is crucial in this regard,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte declared, who spoke on behalf of the Mindanao local governments.
"Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this. The vaccines will be our path to recover. This is all about working together in partnership -- that's the only way we can fight this virus. We have to work together,” said Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who spoke on behalf of the Visayas local government units.
"Asahan n'yo po na kami sa lokal na pamahalaan ang inyong mga sundalo at katuwang upang siguraduhin ang kaligtasan at kalusugan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Sa araw po na ito - sinemento po natin at ipinamalas sa buong mundo ang bayanihan ng mga Pilipino,”Dakila Carlo 'Dax' Enriquez Cua, Provincial Governor of Quirino Province, who spoke on behalf of the Luzon local government units
"I congratulate you all on your dedication to securing a successful conclusion to these negotiations so that the people of the Philippines can look forward to a better and safer future,” Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines.
The tripartite agreement among the national government, LGUs, private sector, and vaccine manufacturers, is the first-in-the-world arrangement to allow the Philippines to secure more vaccines for the country.
President Duterte has earlier approved the scheme in a bid to solidify the government’s effort to ensure that the country will have sufficient vaccines given the limited supply in the global market.
The government vaccine efforts aim at bringing back the normalcy of the Filipinos' lives and revive the country's economy. END
