LCP Statement on Advisory No.40 by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations


By LCP Secretariat
May 18, 2021 - Quezon City


The League of Cities of the Philippines expresses its sincere gratitude to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for approving our request to reclassify local chief executives (LCEs) as Priority Group A1: Workers in Frontline Health Services, specifically under Priority Group A1.5, in the ongoing National Vaccination Program. Such a move recognizes the important roles of LCEs in the success of the country’s vaccination program. We commit to reciprocate the trust and confidence of the IATF to city mayors with more active and responsive vaccination efforts in our respective localities. 

 

On 29 March 2021, LCP National President and Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia wrote to IATF Chairman and DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque requesting the reclassification of LCEs as Priority A1 in the vaccination program. On 13 April 2021, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire maintained the classification of city mayors as Priority A4 or frontline personnel in essential sectors in her letter addressed to Mayor Leonardia. 

 

On 31 March 2021, Mayor Leonardia wrote directly to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, appealing for the reclassification of LCEs as Priority A1. In the same letter, he highlighted that such reclassification would be a “win-win strategy” for the country’s fight against COVID-19. On 5 April 2021, the Chair of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, DOH Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje, issued Advisory No. 26 allowing the vaccination of LCEs in high-risk areas. Mayor Leonardia continued to reach out to DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing, Secretary Vince Dizon, and Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. appealing for the inclusion of all city mayors in the A1 category. He continued to lead by example by visiting vaccination centers and organizing a week-long vaccination operation in his city. All these were designed to drive the point on the critical roles of LCEs in getting the trust of their constituencies to get vaccinated. 

 

On 15 May 2021, the Chair of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, DOH Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje, issued Advisory No. 40 including local chief executives, governors, and mayors—as Heads of Local Health Boards and as Chairs of the Local Task Forces Against COVID-19—in Priority Group A1.

 

The 146 cities are delighted with this new development and warmly thank President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the members of the IATF for their wisdom and foresight with this decision. ###

Granting Authority to make Advance Payments for the Procurement of COVID-19 Vaccines
February 19, 2021
LOOK: Memorandum Order No. 51 signed by President Duterte granting the national government and local government units (LGUs) authority to make advance payments exceeding the 15\% limit for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Advocate
January 15, 2021
The Q1-Q2 2020 issue of our official newsletter features the League's mid-year accomplishments including our response to COVID-19.
 MEMO
Appeal for coordinated assistance to affected cities of Typhoon Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses
November 16, 2020
The unprecedented landfall of three (3) tropical storms in three weeks or from October 25 to November 11 in the country has greatly affected our cities from Luzon. Based on the available Situational Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 64 cities have been affected by Typhoon Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses.
Roundtable Consultation on Metropolitan Transport with Clean Air Asia
October 22, 2020
We invite you to an online consultation with Clean Air Asia on 27 October 2020 (Tuesday), from 2:30 to 6:15 p.m., to deepen the conversation on the importance of establishing and reorganizing transport authorities and executives.
 FEATURE CITY