MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna yesterday led the launching at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta of the city’s drive-thru vaccination site with at least 400 getting their first shot.

Also in attendance were National Task Force against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementor Secretary Vince Dizon, DOH-NCR assistant regional director Dr. Paz Corrales and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, who praised the system and the swift and orderly processes involved after personally observing it himself.

Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan, Manila Disaster Risk and Rescue Management Office chief Arnel Angeles, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Viaje and Department of Public Services chief Kenneth Amurao, who are all jointly in charge of the different aspects of the drive-thru operation, were also present in the affair where Lacuna personally vaccinated the occupants of the first few cars that lined up.

Moreno, who went to the cars and congratulated the occupants for choosing to get vaccinated, said that under the system established by the city’s IT (information technology) department under Fortune Palileo, those interested should reserve their slots by first having themselves registered with the www.manilacovid19vaccine.ph. stressing that no walk-ins will be entertained.

According to the mayor, the drive-thru vaccination site will be accepting reservations for slated inoculation for two weeks including weekends or an equivalent of 1,400 doses at 100 doses per day.

“Click ‘my record’ and once there, you will have to give your number, put your name and then you will get a prompt to protect your privacy. Put your OTP (one-time pin) and go to your account. In your account, when you see the red portion blinking, pag meron nun ibig sabihin me nakatalagang bakuna sa drive-through. Pag wala kayong nakikita ibig sabihin walang bakuna sa drive-thru or puno na,” Moreno said.

“Once registered, you may click and choose the date and then reserve. A message will then be sent to you which you may show when you go to Luneta. If not registered, click red on top and go to ‘reserve’,” he added.

Moreno said the new drive-thru vaccination site will administer the vaccines on a first-come, first-served basis and will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Initially, Moreno said only four-wheeled vehicles may avail of the free vaccination at the drive-thru site since he does not want bikers or motorcycle riders getting wet and risking their lives and limbs by driving on slippery roads which pose a threat to the safety of two-wheel riders.

The mayor was surprised when informed that in a matter of less than an hour while announcing via live broadcast that the reservation was already opened, all of the slots for the two-week period have been filled up already and Moreno likened the speed with which the slots were taken to the one-peso seat sale of Cebu Pacific and Lazada sale.

According to the mayor, vehicle owners may bring their unvaccinated family members or friends so long as they are also registered and at least one of them has made the reservation. However, he said each vehicle is entitled to a maximum of four persons only.

Moreno thanked the dedication of Palileo, the IT team and the volunteers who helped in establishing the new drive-thru system, saying the city did not spend a single centavo for it.

He also expressed gratitude to Lacuna, Pangan and all the vaccinating teams for not complaining even if they are made to work 14 hours every vaccination day and even during holidays and weekdays.

Also located in the same area are the city’s drive-thru free swab testing center for Manilans and non-Manilans which had been in operation for a year and a half, and the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital which has a 344-bed capacity and headed by Dr. Arlene Dominguez.

“We will not stop adapting to challenges and making vaccination as comfortable to the residents as possible. This (drive-thru vaccination) can be a family event. Bring your family and friends,” Moreno thus urged motorists.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Itchie G. Cabayan