The Manila city government has allotted an additional budget of P1.1 billion for its own COVID-19 vaccination plan from its 2021 budget, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Tuesday.
Interviewed on CNN Philippines, Domagoso said the city government will realign the budget originally allotted for infrastructure projects such as road improvement.
“’Yung 2021 na preparation ng annual budget, nag-float kami na what we call ‘soft budgeting’, wherein ‘yung mga infrastructure for road improvement and all other things, itinabi muna namin,” Domagoso said.
“Nilagay namin sa what we call soft budgeting. At doon possibleng kunin pa at magkaroon kami ng access about P1.1 billion. Ito, on top of the P250 million,” Domagoso added.
The city government earlier said it already allotted P250 million for the local vaccination program.
Moreno said that around 326,330 people will be prioritized in the local vaccination program, including senior citizens, medical frontliners, and the working age group.
“Meron na bang plano? Yes, we have. And I think everybody should do the same while we are waiting for the approved, certified, safe, and effective vaccine for the country,” Domagoso said.
“In fact, we are already preparing our card, the vaccine card,” Domagoso added.
According to Domagoso, the average number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Manila per day was around 30.
The total active cases in Manila were 359 as of Monday.
Meanwhile, there will be no letup in police operations against those who would violate health and safety protocols in Manila amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Domagoso said.
Domagoso gave the warning as he congratulated the Manila Police District (MPD) for the arrest of some 20 attendees of a baptism reception at the Manila North Cemetery on Saturday.
The MPD deployed over the weekend more policemen in areas where crowds are expected to converge this Christmas season, such as Divisoria, shopping malls and churches which will hold Simbang Gabi.
MPD director Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco said police visibility has been increased in such areas, according to a report on Dobol B sa News TV.
Police put up a checkpoint for motorcycles at the corner of C.M. Recto Avenue and Ylaya Street in Divisoria.
More cops were also sent to Divisoria on Saturday to remind shoppers to observe physical distancing and wear face masks and face shields.
Shoppers have been swarming to Divisoria to buy goods at bargains this Christmas season, not minding health protocols.
“No letup, and I’m happy that this thing is being addressed simultaneously and people are getting apprehended, so it means there is certainty with our rules,” Domagoso said.
Domagoso reiterated his appeal to Manila residents to follow health and safety protocols until such time that the situation is back to normal.
“Panawagan ko, huwag na kayong lalabag sa mga ordinansa ng lungsod, ‘yung mga ordinansa na iyan para sa kaligtasan niyo ‘yan, hindi para pahirap ‘yan, hindi para sa amin,” Domagoso said.
Last Saturday’s arrest of 20 people happened after the police were tipped of the gathering. They found groups of people singing karaoke and huddled together on tables, many of them not wearing masks. A few children were also at the reception.
The parents of the child who was baptized were among those arrested.
Domagoso also announced that the city of Manila now has 12 new modern ambulances equipped with features aimed at serving the residents much better.
The latest of these efforts he said had been his dream for the city, way before he became mayor.
“Pangarap namin ito nung di pa kami nakapwesto— an honest to goodness, upscale ambulance assistance para sa mga Batang Maynila,” he said.
The mayor said he and vice mayor Honey Lacuna are committed to strengthening even more the city’s medical capacity, citing the importance of a healthy population as a basic necessity for the city and its people to progress.
Domagoso also announced that while banking on the commitment made by President Rodrigo Duterte that anti-COVID vaccines will be made available to Filipinos, the local government will support the national goal by supplementing the effort.
“Bibili si Pangulong Duterte ng bakuna. ‘Yan ang task niya sa kanyang gabinete, para sa mga taga-lungsod at sa buong bansa. Ngayon, ang asahan n’yo naman, ang inyong pamahalaang-lungsod will supplement… we will help the national government and I hope there will soon be an approved, effective and safe vaccine for us,” he said during the flag-raising ceremony in City Hall.
The mayor also expressed hope that those tasked regarding the vaccines will act swiftly instead of the country merely watching other countries get their citizens inoculated.
With Christmas around the corner, Domagoso reiterated an appeal for all Manilans to continue practicing basic health protocols, with an assurance that he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan will continue providing ways to better attend to the medical needs of the citizens.
Meanwhile, Domagoso and Lacuna-Pangan began the ceremonial turnover of Christmas food boxes to various barangays, covering some 650,000 families in Manila.
The said boxes, Domagoso said, contain food items which may be served on the table for the traditional ‘Noche Buena’ and Christmas Day.