Allowing private sector to buy own vaccines also beneficial to gov't —ECOP chief

Employers Confederation of the Philippines president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. on Sunday reiterated that allowing businesses to procure the vaccines for their own employees would also be beneficial to the government, as it no longer has to shoulder the vaccines for these workers.

Ortiz-Luis made the remark as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on the government to allow the private sector to import and buy COVID-19 vaccines directly from accredited sources without restrictions or conditions.

In an interview with Dobol B TV, Ortiz-Luis said many businesses feel that their employees are also considered economic "frontliners", but they are among those at the end of the government's priority list for COVID-19 vaccine.

"Kaya nagsu-suggest ang private sector na kung puwede e payagan na lang bumili diretso. 'Yun naman ay, kung papayagan ng gobyerno, e malaking kabawasan sa kung ano man 'yung budget na inilaan doon," he said.

[That is why the private sector is asking to allow them to buy vaccines directly. If that is going to be the case, it would be a big relief to the budget allocated for it by the government.]

"Anything that the LGU and the private sector buys e kabawasan doon," he added.

[Anything that the LGU and the private sector buys would be deducted from that.]

Ortiz-Luis argued that no violation would be made if businesses buy vaccines for their employees as they are not for sale.

At the same time, Ortiz-Luis said the businesses would also purchase the vaccine brands preferred by the government.

"Hindi naman kami makikipag-usap sa hindi brand na binibili ng gobyerno. Problema na ng private sector ito kung makakabili sila o hindi," he added.

[We will not be negotiating with brands which the government has not purchased before. It is up to the private sector whether they can purchase vaccines or not.]

PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico earlier urged the government to allow the private sector to procure vaccines without restrictions or conditions "so we could move quickly and efficiently in vaccinating more people."

He added that the government should speed up the procurement and rollout of vaccines "to ensure the safety of our workers and people, improve consumer confidence and hasten the recovery of our economy."

Currently, the Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed last month, allows private entities, in cooperation with the Department of Health and the National Task Force Against COVID-19, to purchase vaccines for their own use through a multiparty agreement. —KG, GMA News