Manila City Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso signed a tripartite deal on Monday the acquisition of at least 800,000 doses of vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) from UK-based AstraZeneca.

In a Twitter message, the city government said Domagoso signed a tripartite deal with the pharmaceutical firm and the national government that was represented by National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) and the Department of Health (DOH).

“Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno announces that the local government has closed a deal for the acquisition of 800,000 vaccines under a tripartite agreement with NTF, DOH and AstraZeneca,” the Twitter message said.

The signing of the agreement with AstraZeneca comes after the city government’s signing of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the pharmaceutical firm and US-based Pfizer.

Domagoso said that Pfizer and AstraZeneca are two of the most trusted pharmaceutical companies since both are transparent.

“They have their EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) from the US and British government. Because of the EO 121, taking the cue from the national government. As of now, the City of Manila wanted to acquire (an initial) 400,000 doses,” Domagoso said.

Executive Order 121 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to issue EUA for Covid-19 treatment drugs and vaccines that are still under development.

Manila has allocated about P250 million for Covid-19 vaccines that may still be increased to P1 billion if needed.

Domagoso said the city’s acquisition of Covid-19 vaccines is on top of the national government’s own efforts. CURRENTPH