Senators want to allow the private sector and LGU to secure their own Covid-19 vaccines.

Last January 11, senators want to allow Local Governments and private groups to directly buy the covid-19 vaccine from the manufacturers for easier transactions for Filipinos. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto raised the issue during the Senate's hearing into the Duterte government's vaccination program last January 11 giving as an idea of requirement this involve the national government as a "bottleneck" in ensuring Filipinos' timely access to vaccines against the virus.

Why does the national government want to monopolize the purchase? Why not allow LGUs (local government units) and the private sector to do their own purchases? Why leave it all to the national government?” Recto said.

He added, “If the private sector can purchase it faster, why not allow them as a matter of policy?”

“Right now, there appears to be a stumbling block. From our impression, one cannot deal directly with the supplier; whether you are the private sector or the LGU, you will not deal with the supplier because if you have only an EUA (emergency use authorization), only the national government can deal with the manufacturer,” said Drilon.