JABS FOR EMPLOYEES. Iloilo Business Club executive director Lea Lara says they are studying the option for its member establishments to acquire vaccines for its workers. In an interview on Thursday (Jan. 7, 2021), she said that there are "gray areas" of the procurement that need to be clarified. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo Business Club (IBC) is studying the possibility for its member-establishments to acquire coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for their workers.
Lea Lara, executive director of the IBC, said in an interview on Thursday that they are “open” but there are still “gray areas” needing to be clarified.
She said they need to be clear on the arrangement that half of the volumes of vaccines that will be purchased by the private sector have to be donated to the national government.
Lara said they would like to know if the donation of local companies can be allocated to the locality where they operate.
Likewise, they want to be cleared of the plan of the provincial government as this city has already allocated PHP200 million for the purchase of vaccines.
The business club and the city government has already met twice via zoom where Mayor Jerry P. Treñas updated them about possible vaccines that will soon be available, how they can be procured, and what is being done by companies and other local government units (LGUs) in Manila to be able to acquire these.
They were also shown the contracts and other required documents that should be prepared if they intend to purchase. “We are looking at the agreement,” Lara said.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Wednesday also called for an emergency Executive-Legislative conference with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo to discuss the proposed acquisition/procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
In the case of Iloilo City, the SP has already authorized Treñas to make the proper representation relative to the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
The city government has allocated PHP200 million for the acquisition as it is eyeing to inoculate 100 percent of its population to achieve herd immunity. (PNA)
