DOH asks Congress to extend validity of COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act

Department of Health officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday asked Congress to extend the validity of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act, saying its provisions would become invalid once the state of calamity is lifted.

"Nais din po nating ilapit sa ating mga Senate officials and of course, to our Senate President 'yun pong pag-amend ng RA 11525 which is the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021," Vergeire said in her opening remarks at the launch of the "Pinaslakas" COVID-19 vaccination booster program at the Senate.

"Ito po, dahil pag ni-lift ang state of calamity, the provisions of this law will be invalid already," she added.

(We would like to ask our Senate officials and our Senate President to extend the validity of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 because once the state of calamity is lifted, the provisions of this law will be deemed invalid.)

Vergeire said the law covered the emergency use authorization of the COVID-19 vaccines, the tax exemptions for the assistance received by the government, the emergency procurements and the measures for the price control of commodities.

Under Section 17 of RA 11525, the act shall remain in full force and effect during the period of the state of calamity as declared under Proclamation No. 1021 dated September 16, 2020 issued by the President of the Philippines.

In September 2021, former President Rodrigo Duterte extended the COVID-19 state of calamity in the country until September 12, 2022.

“This declaration will, among others, effectively afford the National Government, as well as local government units ample latitude to continue to implement the COVID-19 vaccination program,” Duterte said in his proclamation.

This would also allow the government to utilize appropriate funds, including a Quick Response Fund, and monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities as well as provide basic services to affected populations.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who joined Vergeire during the event, said the senators would look into DOH's appeal, adding that the laws enacted for COVID-19 response were "time-bound."

Zubiri said the Senate would ask the DOH about its proposed amendments to the law in a hearing which will be conducted on Monday.

"Titingnan namin kung timebound, e 'di extend natin ang validity ng batas para sa ganon may kapangyarihan ang DOH na ituloy ang kanilang mga programa laban sa COVID-19 whether it's vaccinations, whether it is part of protocols for higher levels of infections in the community," Zubiri said.

(We will check if the law is time-bound. If it is time-bound, then we will extend the validity of the law so we can give DOH the power to continue their programs against COVID-19 whether it's for the vaccinations or part of protocols for higher levels of infections in the community.) —NB, GMA News