Tells vaccine czar to start distributing more vaccines to areas with high COVID cases
(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte mandated local officials to fast track the vaccination of people as the country starts administering COVID-19 jabs to economic frontliners (A4 category) and the poor (A5 category).
Duterte in his “Talk To The People” on Monday night, May 31, also directed vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., to distribute immediately the vaccines “pro rata” to areas with high COVID cases starting with Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Butuan and other areas under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).
And since most of the people in National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila has vaccines, Duterte said that more of the other vaccines coming in should also be distributed to local government units.
“Alam mo, wala naman tayong sobra-sobrang bakuna pero they are coming in in bulk now. And as a matter of fact, we have I think almost a million plus na ready for vaccination of people,” he said.
“Ganito na lang ang ano ko, I am directing Secretary Galvez to make a distribution parang pro rata, hindi naman lahat pero mabigyan ‘yong ibang starting Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Butuan, mabigyan lahat ang ano — Surigao, then you go up to Leyte, Samar — paghati-hatian natin ito tutal most of the…the bulk of the people of the NCR mayroon na ho silang bakuna,” he said.
“Kung magdating ‘yong sunod na marami, eh you divide it amongst the local government units. Sana magawa ito sa madaling panahon.”
-Rising COVID-19 cases nationwide; more areas placed under MECQ –
Health officials have reported rising COVID-19 cases in areas outside Metro Manila plus areas. The rising virus cases were reported all over the country — in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Because of this, more areas from Luzon to Mindanao were placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)
The following areas will be under Modified Enhanced Community quarantine (MECQ) from June 1 to 15: The City of Santiago and Cagayan in Region II; Apayao, Benguet and Ifugao in Cordillera Administrative Region; Puerto Princesa in Region IV-B; Iloilo City; Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga del Norte, I think it’s the whole of the Zamboanga community; Cagayan de Oro City; Butuan City and Agusan del Sur in CARAGA.
-NCR plus areas under “GCQ with restrictions” until June 15-
General Community Quarantine with restrictions will be implemented in Metro Manila and Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite or the so-called NCR plus areas from June 1 to 15.
Duterte said that these areas will have restrictions in terms of limited number of persons dining out, and strict social distancing, as he warned barangay officials who would not be able to implement these restrictions that they would be punished and charged. The President also directed LGU officials to arrest those who would be violating the social distancing protocols.
He said that even in the vaccination sites, social distancing should be done. People should not be lining up for a long period.
“Itong restriction ito ‘yong parang limited number of persons magkain. Whenever there is a grouping of human beings eh talagang susundin ninyo, nag-social distancing, lahat na. These are the restrictions. Alam ninyo ‘yan,” he said.
-Areas under GCQ until June 30-
Those under GCQ from June 1 to 30 are Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Abra in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Region 2; Batangas and Quezon in Region 4-A; Iligan City in Region 10; Davao City in Region 11; Lanao del Sur and Cotabato City in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
The rest of the Philippines will be under modified general community quarantine from June 1 to 30.
-Duterte tells LGUs to ensure no vaccine wastage-
President Duterte said the LGUs should be more creative and innovative in making sure that people would not wait long to get their vaccines. They should also make sure that there is no vaccine wastage because of the failure to maintain these at the right temperature.
He directed the LGUs to administer the vaccines quickly, and to avoid crowding without social distancing in vaccination areas so these would not become super spreader event themselves.
“All our LGUs implementing the national vaccination program, we need to administer the vaccines quickly because we do not have a vaccine site to become a spreader in event. And not only that, kung marami na walang bakuna at ‘yang bakuna na mayroon hindi niyo puwedeng bukas-bukasin ‘yan kasi ang shelf life ‘yong bakuna will expire on a certain day,” he said.
“And nakita ko the longest is about three, two months. Wala nang bisa ‘yan, itatapon na ‘yan. Just like one instance somewhere in ano, naging spoiled ang ano because nawalaan na ‘yong temperature. Dapat nakabaon talaga ‘yan sa ice and in storage na where the temperature is controlled. Failing that, we waste the vaccines which are important in making the people healthy.”
-Duterte: Don’t make people line up for a long time-
Duterte also said that making people line up or queue for a long time is not acceptable as these would put them at risk. He urged LGUs to “use technology and advanced approaches to make sure the entire process is more effective.”
“Making them queue is palinyahin mo. Making them queue for an hour or longer exposes them to other risk,” he said.
“Huwag mong pahirapan ‘yong tao na palinyahin ninyo. Either the day before magbigay kayo ng mga card. Simple lang naman ‘yan, may number ano ‘yong card. So ‘yong 100 ngayong araw na ‘to, 101, 102, eh kung sinong gustong magpabakuna, lumapit doon. Dito sa isang mesa, this is where you get the names, ibigay mo ‘yong card. Then do it in such a way na you are there 15 minutes earlier para maghintay na lang to expedite the vaccination of people.”
“So the barangay captain has a list, alam ko ‘yan. Lahat barangay captain has a list of the people in his barangay. It behooves upon you guys to make sure that they are given the numbers and on appointed time and not make them ‘yong sabi ito ‘yong queue.”
The NCR plus areas were previously placed under “GCQ with heightened restrictions.” Malacanang said that starting today, JUne 1 until June 15, these areas will be placed under “GCQ with restrictions.” Officials are expected to announce and explain the distinction between the two in a later press briefing.
(Eagle News Service)
