President Rodrigo Duterte’s order on putting a price ceiling for COVID-19 vaccines will soon be enforced, the Department of Trade and Industry said on Thursday, as it reported the progress of the endeavor.
Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo in an interview on November 19 reported that the department is “in the final stages” of discussions with the public stakeholders.
“Nag-public stakeholders consultation tayo nung Monday, and then the stakeholders were given a deadline last Tuesday na mag-submit sila ngcomments dun sa draft guidelines natin,” Castelo said.
“We’re already consolidating these comments and in the final stages na. Angfinal target talaga natin na mailabas ito is tomorrow, (November 20)” she added,
[We had a public stakeholders consultation on Monday, and the stakeholders were given until Tuesday to submit their comments on the draft guidelines. We’re already consolidating these comments and we are in the final stages. The final target is to release this tomorrow.]
Castelo also revealed that the price cap would have to be below ₱6,000 per vaccine.
“Basta pag sinabi mong ₱6,000 sobrang mahal na niya… Should be 10% lower than ₱6,000” she said.
Earlier, the Department of Health disclosed the initial cost of COVID-19 vaccines, estimated at nearly P3 billion to cover 25 million people.
President Rodrigo Duterte has also agreed to advance supply agreements and make early payments to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Malacañang said.
