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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Baka naman': MMDA chief asks Metro LGUs to vaccinate people from other cities once they achieve local targets

'Baka naman': MMDA chief asks Metro LGUs to vaccinate people from other cities once they achieve local targets

Published Aug 13, 2021 12:25 pm

Local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila that have finished inoculating their target population from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) should accept and accommodate unvaccinated individuals from other LGUs in the metropolis.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos (2nd from left, standing) oversees the vaccination of individuals at a mall in Metro Manila last Aug. 6, 2021. (Ali Vicoy/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos made this pitch Friday, Aug. 13, even as he noted that Metro Manila mayors have previously committed to help each other in the intensified vaccination efforts.

"Kaya rin ako nandirito, gusto kong kumbinsihin at ito talaga ang pinag-usapan ng lahat na magtutulungan sa Metro Manila (The reason why I'm here is to convince them and anyway, they've discussed cooperation in Metro Manila). They vote as one, they act as one, and they vaccinate as one," Abalos told reporters during his inspection of the vaccination process in the municipality of Pateros.

"Ang maganda sa Pateros they're almost 99 percent. I think this day matatapos na sila. Ang gusto ko sanang mangyari once matapos sila, 'wag nilang isarado ito, ituloy-tuloy nila ang bakuna (What's good about Pateros is they're almost 99 percent down. I think they will finish up today. What I would want is for them to keep this open and continue its operations)," he said.

"Para yun namang iba sa Metro Manila na mga kababayan natin na gustong magpabakuna, maski hindi ka tiga-Pateros, pwede kang magpabakuna rito. Yung ang hinihingi ko para we vaccinate as one (This would allow our countrymen from anywhere in Metro Manila to get their jabs in Pateros even if they don't reside there. That's what I'm requesting so that we vaccinate as one)," he explained.

San Juan City made headlines last month by becoming the first LGU in the National Capital Region (NCR) to attain 100 percent vaccination of its target population, which is 70 percent of local residents. Other cities have since followed suit.

Abalos said that under the scheme that he is proposing, an unvaccinated person need only to register to a particular LGU's vaccination system and wait for his or her turn.

"Maski tiga-ibang lugar ka, Metro Manila or probably even NCR-plus, magpa-schedule ka lang, we could accommodate you (Even if you're from someplace else within Metro Manila or probably even NCR-plus, just have yourself scheduled, we could accommodate you)."

Abalos stressed that metro authorities are "racing against time" to inoculate as many people as they can.

Meanwhile, the MMDA chief has also warned people against taking so-called "booster" shots or excess dosage of COVID-19 vaccines, saying it's illegal.

The NCR or Metro Manila is currently under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Abalos previously said that they intend to ramp up vaccinations in the region during this two-week period to as much as 250,000 shots per day.

The ECQ implementation is meant to halt the spread of the more dangerous Delta variant of COVID-19.

Related Tags

delta variant UNVACCINATED target population LGUs accommodate vaccinate 81321 san juan city covid-19 Pateros MMDA 100 percent Benhur Abalos
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