Mayor Isko Moreno delivers his state of the city address at the city council. Behind him is presiding officer and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. Photo by JERRY S. TAN
Isko: Manila a step ahead in war vs COVID
MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno said the city government has always been one step ahead in mitigating the effect of the pandemic in the nation’s capital
In his third State of the City Address, Moreno said the vaccination plan of the local government was created even before the spike of COVID-19 cases in the country.
As early as January 5, Moreno said the Manila city government had already signed a contract for the procurement of 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and an agreement for the 400,000 doses of Sinovac was inked on April 28.
Simulation exercises were also held in the city’s district hospitals in order to train its medical frontliners ahead of the actual vaccination that started in March.
With this, the government was able to effectively execute a mass vaccination program in its 22 COVID-19 vaccination sites across the six districts while also conducting home service jabs for bedridden patients. A COVID-19 vaccine passport was also made available online for those who have been inoculated.
Hiring of additional doctors, nurses, and medical technicians was also made to strengthen the healthcare sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Vaccination should be faster than infection. Vaccination is the solution,” Moreno said, noting that more 600,000 individuals have received their first dose of vaccine while about 250,000 have already been fully vaccinated.
It could also be noted that the city government was able to build the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital ahead of its 60-day target schedule.
Moreno said the 344-bed capacity hospital was made in order to decongest the six district hospitals and be able to return to its full function and be able to cater other health concerns.
“Ang Maynila ay nagpatuloy na maghanda, nangarap. Katulad ng mga nabigkas ko na, kung kaya ng India, kung kaya ng Italya, kaya rin ng Pilipinas lalo na ang Lungosd ng Maynila,” Moreno said.
“We have to be ahead of the situation. Our capacity should always be ahead of the numbers of infection,” he added.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Storage Facility and Molecular Testing Laboratory were likewise constructed at the Sta. Ana Hospital as the government also augmented two sets of RT-PCR Testing Machines and one Cartridge Based 16-Placer Machine at the said hospital.
The following were also procured to increase the capability of the six district hospitals: Eight Mobile digital X-Ray Machines, Digital X-Ray Machines, Three Abbott Serology Laboratory Testing Machines, High-Flow Oxygenator, Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR), Mechanical Ventilator, Saturation Machines, HEPA Purifier, Personal Protective Equipment, CT SCAN 128-Slice, and Hybrid Assistive Limb – HAL for physical therapy.
On top of this, new regiment medicines such as Remdesivir and Avigan, as well as Tocilizumab, were made available to the public for free. The city government has also appropriated about P250 million for the procurement of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.
“Alam natin na walang silbi ang apat na sulok ng silid kung walang gamot,” Moreno said.
The mayor also noted that with the help of the free RT-PCR tests being conducted by the city government, detection of the COVID-19 virus has been made easier.
“Mga kababayan, yan ang patuloy na pagtupad ng aming mga pangako,” said Moreno.
