Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said Sunday, June 6 that none of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines that had been allocated to the National Capital Region (NCR) went to waste due to expiration.

"On record I would like to state this, dito po sa atin, of course sa ating mga alkalde...Ni isang bakuna ay walang nag-expire sa kalakhang Maynila (here in our area, not one of the vaccines in Metro Manila expired, thanks to our mayors)," Abalos told DZBB radio in an interview.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely known to be sensitive in that they need to be kept at certain low temperatures. The jabs in the Philippines' portfolio are also composed of different brands that have varying expiration dates.

The past week also saw the Luzon grid--where the NCR is located--grapple with dwindling power reserves to the point that there were rotational brownouts in the region last Tuesday and Wednesday.

But the MMDA chief's statement indirectly confirms that the temporary power interruptions did no harm to the precious vaccines, at least those in the metropolis.

The Philippines isn't a vaccine-producing country; as such, all the COVID-19 doses that it has on hand have come from abroad either through procurement or donation.

"Globally talagang nag-uunahan sa pagkuha ng bakuna (Globally, there is a race to get vaccines)," said Abalos, who also praised the national government's efforts in steadily increasing the country’s vaccine supply.

The government's mass inoculation program against the dreaded COVID-19 began last March 1.

"Dalawa ang talagang importanteng prinsipyo dito . Number one, dapat mabilis at efficient ang pagbabakuna; at number two, walang mapapanis (There are two important principles in the vaccination program. Number one, the vaccination must be fast and efficient; and number two, no vaccine must spoil)," he said.