OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Saturday, July 10, said that at least 20 percent of the National Capital Region's target population will likely be fully vaccinated by August, considering the current rate of vaccinations in the region.

David said about 8 percent of Metro Manila's adult population has been fully vaccinated so far.

"Actually, may mga LGUs (local government units) nga more than 20 percent vaccinated (there are LGUs that have already fully vaccinated more than 20 percent of their population)," he said in a DZBB interview on Saturday.

"Malaking bagay kasi yan kapag marami na talaga yung protected sa atin and ang palagay natin baka mga August ma-achieve na yung 20 percent (This is significant because if many of us are already protected, we think that 20 percent of the fully vaccinated population will be achieved in August," he said.

While "population protection" may not be achieved yet, reaching 20 percent is considered a landmark achievement.

David said having landmark achievements will allow the government to remain on track in achieving population protection or herd immunity.

He pointed out that the government may consider the rate of vaccination in their decision to maintain general community quarantine (GCQ) or shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in NCR in the coming weeks.

Metro Manila was placed under GCQ "with some restrictions" until July 15.

In further easing restrictions, "sa palagay ko parang pwede rin naman nating sundin kasi based dun sa tracking ng vaccination ang binabantayan natin kelan tayo magkakaroon sa NCR ng at least 20 percent fully vaccinated (I think we can also follow the rate of vaccination because we are tracking and monitoring when we will have at least 20 percent of fully vaccinated in the NCR)," he said.