SENATE PRESIDENT Aquilino L. Pimentel III on Sunday urged the Department of Health (DoH) to demand a full refund of the P3.5-billion contract with French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur over the Dengvaxia vaccines, instead of asking for reimbursements from unused vaccines.

“All the vaccines were defective from the very beginning. Therefore, under our laws, we should demand the whole P3.5 billion we paid them and not just part of it,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Pimentel ‘s remarks came two days after the DoH demanded a P1.4-billion refund from Sanofi Pasteur over the government’s unused Dengvaxia vaccines.

The DoH had also asked the vaccine manufacturer to conduct serotesting “at no cost to the government” in order to determine the pre-vaccination status of over 830,000 children who received the Dengvaxia vaccine under the anti-dengue immunization program.

Acknowledging the Health department’s request, Sanofi Pasteur in a statement mentioned that its officials had requested for a meeting with Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III regarding the matter.

Mr. Pimentel said the Civil Code of the Philippines indicated that a defective product could be replaced or refunded.

“Since there is no possible replacement for the vaccine, refund is the only option,” he said.

Mr. Pimentel added that even if Sanofi Pasteur reimburses the full amount, it does not release them from any liabilities that could arise from putting at risk the children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

The DoH had suspended the immunization program following Sanofi Pasteur’s analysis that the Dengvaxia vaccine may pose health risks for those vaccinated without having dengue.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is investigating the previous administration’s alleged “hasty” procurement of Dengvaxia vaccines.

Amid reports of dengue deaths among children after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia, the DoH has yet to conclude that the deaths were related to the vaccine, pending an investigation by both the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). — Camille A. Aguinaldo

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it will continue the implementation of the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” program despite an impending strike by transport group PISTON. The group’s leader George San Mateo yesterday announced they will hold on Jan. 24 protests in front of LTFRB offices nationwide to oppose the campaign conducted by various government agencies including the LTFRB, of apprehending public utility vehicles (PUVs) with violations such as smoke belching, defective parts, and others, as part of the government’s PUV Modernization Program. Board Member Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada said: “We will continue the Tanggal Usok Tanggal Bulok program of the government. This is long overdue, we need to do this unless, during the transition period, we will only put the proper PUVs on the road. We are slowly paving the way toward modernization.” PISTON and other affiliated transport groups last year held transport strikes against the PUV Modernization Program, leading to suspension of classes. Last month, Mr. San Mateo was arrested for violating the Public Service Act. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

THE CITY government is looking at managing records of patients in its health centers and other health units through a program developed by the Department of Health (DoH). Under the proposal, as yet to be approved by the city council, the city government will link up with the DoH in the implementation of said program, iClinicsys, which will allow the city government to manage the patients coming from its 182 villages. Health Assistant Secretary Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr. said the idea behind the program is to provide a centralized record system for patients, so “national government agencies that provide funding for health like Philhealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) will have a record to refer to when they release funds to their beneficiaries.” He added that this will also help beneficiaries seek medical help as they will have access to those that provide funds. Another agency that will eventually use the data is the Department of Social Welfare and Development in fulfillment of its mandate, Mr. Dumama also said. “We will be training them (personnel of the local government units) to use the program,” he said. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

ALERT LEVEL 1 (abnormal) status remained in effect as of Sunday’s update by Phivolcs, saying this meant it was in “a state of unrest probably driven by hydrothermal processes that could generate steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.” The update also read: “Local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited and that vigilance in the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) must be exercised due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.”