Andronico Del Rosario
With the government struggling to secure more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the all-important nationwide vaccination drive, private companies have had to resort to acquiring for their employees—with a catch.
Private companies are supposedly required to donate half of the doses they secure to the government in an alleged “buy-one-donate-one” scheme exposed by a CEO.
A now-viral tweet by Colourette CEO Nina Ellaine Dizon asked her followers and the rest of Twitter-dom on rumors of the said scheme.
So we've been planning to vaccinate all our employees and we came upon the news na you have to donate 50% of your purchased vaccines to the government. How true is this? Kung totoo to, pota. Hindi niyo na nga ginawa trabaho niyo, pinasa niyo pa samin?
— Nina (@theninaellaine) March 20, 2021
This did not sit well with supporters of the Duterte administration, particularly Mark Lopez, who called Dizon “stupid” for “spreading fake news.
This idiot "CEO" of COLOURETTE COSMETICS is spreading FAKE NEWS.
The government is not making it mandatory for private companies to "donate" half of their planned vaccine procurement.
It was a PRIVATE INITIATIVE OF BIG BUSINESS to DONATE to Government, led by Joey Concepcion. pic.twitter.com/sruDSGwspj
— Mark Lopez (@MacLen315) March 20, 2021
Succeeding tweets from Dizon would have her asking which companies—presumably referring to pharmaceutical companies—can she place an order of COVID-19 vaccines from without the buy-one-take-one mandate.
We want to buy vaccines for our employees without carrying the burden of the government. If indeed you are saying there is no truth to my query of Buy 1 Donate 1, then can you please cite companies we can order from without this mandate? Thanks!
— Nina (@theninaellaine) March 21, 2021
Yes. Please give us the contact details where we can order vaccines without this mandate. We really appreciate any help and would love to be wrong. https://t.co/NeXvtqFo06
— Nina (@theninaellaine) March 21, 2021
Two employers have since clarified the supposed conditions for a tripartite agreement, which is the only way for private companies to secure vaccines for their employees.
In separate interviews with GMA News, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said private companies could procure vaccines through a tripartite agreement (without the need to donate to the government).
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo funder Joey Concepcion confirmed similar details with GMA News—though he adds that at least one company has the buy-one-donate-one scheme in its supply agreement.
“In the case of AstraZeneca, they had a no-profit program—which is why a dose was at $5. We wanted to help the government medical frontliners, and this is how we crafted the first tripartite agreement. And yes, it still stands,” said Concepcion.
Netizens remain split on the matter, as some agree with Dizon.
Yes but from private companies’ perspective, if they don’t start the process of purchasing now and just rely on gov’t, vaccination of their employees may not even happen at all.
For instance, how many of us know how to register to get the shots through the government program? https://t.co/HWM8r9bBvY
— Barnaby Lo (@barnabychuck) March 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/direkchrism/status/1373577326638723072
So if private offices buys into the 1:1 vaccine donation, saan na mapupunta ung billiong inutang para sa vaccine? Pasa sa private sector ang gastos? Putangina talaga
— Honey Maglaqui (@iamHoneyAngel15) March 21, 2021
It includes Vice President Leni Robredo, who also has given her thoughts on the matter.
5. Private sector is a big help. Sana let us not over regulate. Let us not make it difficult for private companies to participate. Wala sigurong problema for bigger companies. But for smaller businesses who only want to make their employees safe, huwag na masyadong pahirapan pa.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) March 21, 2021
Even Senator Panfilo Lacson came to her defense.
Hindi po siya. Yung nagpakalat ng maling information about government imposing on the private sector. I’m trying to correct a disinformation because I happen to know the story behind the 50% that the private sector VOLUNTARILY OFFERED to the government.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) March 21, 2021
Lacson earlier alluded to another CEO spreading the wrong information about private firms securing vaccines.
Whoever is spreading the message that the government requires a donation of 50% of the vaccines procured by the private sector is a fake or sick in the mind. Private sector volunteered to donate to help in the country’s vaccination program. That is the fact.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) March 20, 2021
One Netizen, however, saw this act from private firms as a way to “cut in line” with the government’s priority list for vaccines—which, as of today, still sits at healthcare workers.
Personal opinion:
Private companies buying vaccines right now is puzzling.
Because ultimately, they shouldn't go first. It's HCWs, then vulnerable sectors, then most of the population, of which a lot of private firms fall under the latter. That's vaccine prioritization.
— Peter Cayton, the Stats Guy (@PJACaytonPhD) March 20, 2021
The same Netizen would ask private companies to [at least] refrain from buying their supply of vaccines until after priority groups before they get inoculated.
