BATANG MAYNILA
Once again, my colleagues in the city government and my fellow Manilans have made me feel proud and elated.
This, after the city of Manila became the only exception as the entire National Capital Region (NCR) has been placed under the highest alert level for COVID-19 recently.
In announcing this very welcome development, the Department of Health cited as the reason for the exception of Manila, its status amid the continuous rise of infections all over the metro and hospital bed utilization in the city.
Despite this, however, we cannot sit on our laurels and must take the said exception as a challenge to do even better. I and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna continue finding ways to alleviate the continuing COVID situation in the city and still call on our citizens to get vaccinated.
For as long as there are cases and deaths, no matter how minimal, we will continue working against the transmission of the coronavirus.
I am truly thankful to God that our seventh hospital, the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital located in Luneta, was finished in time for the spike in coronavirus cases.
Apart from all parts of Metro Manila, our patients come from as far as Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite and Batangas, among others. The 344-bed capacity is almost always nearly used to the fullest and I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been if we did not have our COVID hospital.
Just like our hospitals, the life-saving drugs that we have purchased, Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, have also been used up in so short a time and those who availed of it for free also came from different parts of the country, even from far-flung areas. These drugs are not only hard to access but are also very expensive.
With regard the status of our mass vaccination program under the supervision of Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan, we are still vaccinating but mind you.
Modesty aside, the city of Manila already achieved its objective percentage of “population protection” weeks ago, so that we are currently just saturating the barangays for the benefit of those who remain unvaccinated, no matter how small their numbers are.
We have brought the vaccination down to the grassroots by doing the inoculation in the 45 barangay health centers, although jabs remain given in the shoppings malls that have been designated as vaccination sites.
As of this writing, the number of individuals who have been fully vaccinated in Manila is nearing the one million mark.
As of Sept. 8, a total of 931,902 individuals have so far been fully vaccinated in the city and based on our data, those who have been inoculated totaled 1,288,414 while the vaccines administered has already reached a total of 2,172,966.
So far, nearly 100 percent of those who have received their first dose actually return for their second dose to complete their vaccination.
In this light, I do express gratitude to the people of Manila for continuously heeding my advice for them to get jabbed at once not only for their own protection but for their loved ones’ too.
As of September 6, 2021, a total of 2,199,072 individuals have already pre-registered with www.manilacovid19vaccine.ph.
The swab tests continue to be given for free both for Manilans and non-Manilans and the Manila Emergency Operation Center (MEOC) under Dr. Ed Santos, assistant chief of the Manila Health Department (MHD), has updated its contact numbers for those who want to avail of the said swab tests even for mere peace of mind.
MEOC’s updated contact numbers are as follows: 09608229384/ 09777297572/ 09150656335/ 09616281414/ 09610627013/ 09684389304 and 09954966176.
At the slightest manifestation of COVID symptoms, I encourage the public to immediately isolate and avail of our free swab testing. But of course, my primary appeal is for them to always, constantly observe the health protocols in order to avoid getting infected with the virus.
It is only through a unified self-discipline that beating COVID-19 is possible.
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Gaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
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For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’