By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

San Carlos City and Don Salvador Benedicto town are the latest local government units in Negros Occidental to announce plans to purchase coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, vaccines for their respective localities.

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said the city government has set aside P20 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and they are currently aiming to vaccinate 60,000 of their residents.

Gustilo said he is hoping to join Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson when the provincial government makes the purchase.

As the number of active COVID-19 cases continues to drop in the city, with only 24 active cases left, the city mayor is urging the residents to follow health protocols and not to let their guard down.

Meanwhile, Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlene dela Cruz said they are aiming to vaccinate at least 20,000 of their residents by borrowing at least P13 million.

Dela Cruz admitted that they are having a hard time trying to set aside funds for the purchase of vaccines. They are hoping for Lacson to also include the province’s small towns when they purchase the COVID-19 vaccines.

Last week, the town of E.B. Magalona had set aside at least P20 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. Hinoba-an and Toboso towns also set aside P10 million and P16 million, respectively.

Also in a Zoom meeting last week, the mayors in the province have agreed that the negotiation for the purchase of vaccines should be coursed through the provincial government.

After an initial contract with AstraZeneca, Lacson said he will ask if the province can have another contract for the LGUs, especially the cities.

The governor also encouraged the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter to strongly lobby to vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, for the national government to provide a big percentage of free COVID-19 vaccines especially for the fourth and fifth class municipalities./DGB, WDJ