By: Carla Gomez - @inquirerdotnetInquirer Visayas / 07:20 PM December 20, 2020

BACOLOD CITY – A former lawmaker expressed hopes that Negros Occidental will be among the provinces in the country to avail of COVID-19 vaccines.

Former Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who turned 54 on Sunday, said his birthday wish is for people in the province to have the coronavirus vaccines by the first quarter of 2021.

The former representative of Negros Occidental’s third district and incumbent consultant on the provincial government’s economic affairs said he already had an agreement with the national government for the purchase of the vaccines.

“As soon as we get an allocation, I’ll bring them to Negros,” he said, adding that the provincial and national governments will pay for the vaccines.

Benitez said the Sinovac vaccine is expected to be available earlier.

“To allay doubts of the public about the Chinese vaccine, I am willing to be the first to be vaccinated with it,” he said.

The amount to be put out by the provincial government has yet to be determined.

Benitez said he is waiting for the figure from Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on the amount the provincial government can allocate for the purchase of the vaccines.

“The purchase will be done through the national government,” he said. [ac]