The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has started coordinating with Metro Manila mayors and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in identifying other possible coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination sites after long lines in the flooded areas enraged President Duterte.
In an interview over GMA News, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said there were already alternative vaccination sites that were identified.
He said that the issue will be discussed further in the meeting of the DILG, MMC and the MMDA, along with issues on long queues especially during the time of bad weather.
Regarding the chaos in one of the vaccination centers in Manila, Malaya said the debate on whether to allow walk-ins or COVID-19 inoculation be done by appointment has remained a subject of numerous debates.
He explained that crowd control is an extreme challenge for the government if walk-ins are allowed in the vaccination sites especially with more people trooping in the are with the arrival of more COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
Another concern discussed during the July 24 President’s Talk to the Nation, Malaya said, was the increase in the local health capacity where it will be ensured that the isolation facilities are functional.
Malaya said that LGUs must assure that the hospitals in their areas should have ample oxygen, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medicines.