The Antique provincial government has allocated P10 million for the purchase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.
Antique’s provincial planning and development officer, Juliana Cepe, said Governor Rhodora Cadiao had requested the inclusion of the P10 million for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines in the 2021 annual budget.
Cepe said the appropriation for the vaccines was included particularly in the 20-percent development fund under the social development sector of the Annual Investment Plan (AIP), which is the list of projects for implementation using the proposed 2021 budget.
“We will be submitting the 2021 Annual Budget in the total amount of P2.178 billion for the review and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),” she said.
Cepe said the 2021 budget and its accompanying AIP was approved by the Provincial Board before the end of December 2020, but will have to be reviewed and approved by the DBM before its implementation.
Meanwhile, Cadiao said she has requested the allocation to ensure that the provincial government is ready to answer the health needs of its people.
“The province of Antique is under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) low-risk and so we might be on the least of priorities by the national government when the COVID-19 vaccine is already available in the Philippines,” the lady mayor said.
“The priorities for the vaccines that will be purchased by the provincial government will be the health workers and senior citizens.”
“The priorities for the vaccines that will be purchased by the provincial government will be the health workers and senior citizens in the province,” she added.
“The vaccination, however, will be free and voluntary for those who want to be vaccinated,” Cadiao stressed.
“I would like to be among the first to avail of the vaccine to show the people it is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.”
She noted that she would like to be among the first to avail of the vaccine to show the people it is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.