PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—The city government of Puerto Princesa will be setting aside P500 million for the purchase of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)-approved coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
According to Mayor Lucilo Bayron they were targeting to vaccinate around 70 percent or around 200,000 individuals in Puerto Princesa for free.
He said a portion of this year’s budget will be re-aligned for the immunization plan dubbed as CoVacc.
“Our target is 70 percent of the population. Kung ano ‘yong mabibili natin, bilhin na natin para ‘yong vaccination program natin masimulan na natin,” Mayor Bayron said.
In addition, Bayron emphasized that the city will not be buying the Pfizer vaccine as the city government did not have the capability or facilities to provide storage which is a requirement of the vaccine.
“Let’s forget about Pfizer. It needs to be stored in minus 70 to minus 90 degrees Celsius, we don’t have the capability,” Bayron said.
In September 2020, the city council approved the local City Ordinance No. 1079 authored by City Councilor Herbert Dilig, that set aside P127-million fund for the COVID-19 vaccines from the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Ric Panganiban also said that they were set to provide the guidelines and rules for the immunization program of the city government.
Beneficiaries will also be subjected for the validation and screening of their office, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and City Planning Office (CPO).