Local government units (LGUs) are “inspired” to help the national government in buying, using, and handling coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines as a way of volunteerism, Quirino Governor Dax Cua said.
In a virtual news briefing sponsored by the Presidential Communications Operations Office-Philippine Information Agency, Cua, president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) said LGUs have the relevant data and ground experience to share that can help guide the national government in decision-making processes.
“We are more than ready to help the national government.”
“We are more than ready to help the national government,” the governor said.
“We see a need for inventory of those who need most the vaccines like the indigents, with comorbidities, frontliners and even teachers and students. We can be of help to identify a group of people to be prioritized according to protocols set by the IATF, Health and DILG departments,” he stressed.
“LGUs can help identify those areas with appropriate transportation, storage and logistics.”
While the LGUs are not privy to details of vaccines such as shelf life, they can help identify those areas with appropriate transportation, storage and logistics, Cua added.
He said local governments can even use their calamity funds if authorized and help in inoculation of priority groups.