Town mayors hope for free vaccines

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MITCH M. LIPA

Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles said yesterday that chief executives of towns with lesser income are hoping to get free COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents.

Miravalles, president of League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Negros Occidental, said the league will look into how much the national government can share for third and fourth class municipalities since these local government units receive lower Internal Revenue Allotment share.

Mayor Enrique Miravalles | Valladolid LGU Photo

The LMP will ask the National Inter-Agency Task Force to be given priority for bigger number of free vaccines since most of their constituents belong to the low income bracket, he said.

In Negros Occidental, the 12 city mayors under the Association of Chief Executives, and 19 members of the LMP-Negros Occidental will hold a joint meeting on Jan. 13 to discuss plans on how to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

Miravalles said representatives from the national, regional, and provincial IATF are expected to spearhead the meeting to discuss matters pertaining to priorities of the national government for the free vaccine program.

He noted that a fourth class municipality can set aside only up to P5 million for the purchase of vaccines.

The amount will cover only a small percentage of the total population in every town if the vaccine is pegged at the average of P2,500 per dose and the requirement is two doses, he added.

Miravalles said the town mayors hope that the provincial government will assist the LMP in reaching the required amount to cover the cost of the vaccines for majority of their constituents. – MML