Lawmakers in the upper chamber believe that local government units should be given the authority to make changes their vaccination priority list that would better fit their situation.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri manifested during a hearing that mayors should be given leeway on how they would want to prioritize vaccination in their own territories.
“I think the priority of the LGUs might be a little more different. There should be some sort of leeway,” he said. Senator Sonny Angara echoed this sentiment, noting that LGUs have different situations and may have varying views on who their frontliners are.
League of Provinces Director Sandra Paredes said there are some local authorities asking they be given the power to adjust their list, with some noting their intentions to immunize their workforce first to jumpstart the local economy.
However, Dr. Antonio Dans, spokesperson of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19, said the prioritization process is the responsibility of the National Immunization Technical Advisory group. “If prioritization will be determined by LGUs, we will fail to reach an equitable distribution,” he added.
On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said prioritization should be specified in the law to prevent the fear of politicizing.
