League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National President Bing Leonardia has called for a special online General Assembly of city mayors on January 12 to meet with the Vaccine Czar of the COVID National Task Force 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 vaccines.
Galvez had earlier met with Leonardia, who is mayor of Bacolod City, and the LCP Committee on Vaccine Availment last December 29 to discuss the timeline of vaccine availability, based on ongoing negotiations with prospective pharmaceutical companies.
“During our talks with the 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.
Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo of the FDA is also expected to attend the meeting to provide updates on the emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, the LCP vaccine availment committee 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 after several city mayors had already allocated budgets for vaccines. Leonardia had also allocated P300 million for his Bacolod City constituents’ vaccine needs.