Lazatin seeks P600M loan for vaccines to inoculate all AC residents vs COVID-19

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Admin

ANGELES CITY — Fulfulling his promise that “No Angeleno will be left behind,” Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. announced today he is pushing for a P600 million loan to acquire doses of vaccines to inoculate 411,634 residents here.

This after the Department of Health (DOH) in a letter dated January 18, 2021, replied to Lazatin that “transfer of fund to local government units is not applicable under this circumstances.”

Lazatin earlier allocated P25 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

Lazatin tapped his Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas to represent him in initial talks with leading financial institutions so that the city government will be able to acquire doses of vaccines for residents.

He will also ask the City Council led by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting to support him by authorizing him to enter into a loan agreement to provide free vaccines to all Angeles City residents.

“The City Government has more than enough borrowing capacity. I am just putting it in good use,” Lazatin said.

Over the weekend, Lazatin has instructed his medical doctors led by Dr. Froilan Canlas of the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center or Ospital Ning Angeles and Dr. Verona Guevera of the City Health Office to come out with an initial guidelines for the inoculation.

“While waiting for the guidelines of the national government, we are drafting our own as well then we will adjust according to the guidelines of the national government,” Lazatin said.