House to pass vax indemnification bill Feb. 22

MANILA – The House of Representatives is set to approve on third and final reading on Monday (February 22), a measure establishing a vaccine indemnity fund and expediting the purchase of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco made the statement on Friday after President Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent House Bill No. 8648 and Senate Bill No. 2057.

“As soon as we were apprised that the indemnification fund is a requirement of the vaccine manufacturers, we wasted no time in filing House Bill 8648, which would allow emergency procurement of vaccines and provide the required indemnification fund,” Velasco said. “With President Rodrigo Roa Duterte certifying the measure as urgent, the House is expected to approve HB 8648 on second and third reading by Monday.”

The bill is now up for second reading after it was approved by the House Committee on Appropriations and sponsored in plenary,

Aside from the indemnification bill, Velasco said the House is also prepared to pass the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act or Bayanihan 3, which proposes a PHP420-billion fund for the much-needed Covid-19 response and recovery interventions.

Bayanihan 3 also includes a PHP25-billion budget for Covid-19 treatment and vaccines.

He noted that the chamber has always been supportive of the national government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic, highlighting the passage of the 2021 national budget, which includes a PHP72.5 billion allocation for vaccine procurement, as well as the Bayanihan 1 and 2.

“Rest assured that the House will continue to pass legislation that would help sustain the national government’s efforts in addressing the pandemic, so we can all return to normal at the soonest possible time,” he said.

House Bill 8648 provides exemptions to compliance by local government units with the procurement requirements under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act in the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines and other much-needed supplies during the pandemic.

Under the bill, the vaccines will be exempted from customs duties, value-added tax, excise tax, and other fees provided that the shots to be acquired by LGUs “shall only be used for their residents and constituents, and not for commercial distribution.”