Mayor Isko Moreno prepares for the resumption of the drive-thru vaccination in Luneta. With him in photo are (from left) Dr. Poks Pangan, (behind Moreno) MPD Traffic chief Col. Ronaldo Santiago, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Viaje, department of public services chief Kenneth Amurao and Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office chief Arnel Angeles. Photo by JERRY S. TAN
Manila’s drive-thru vax resumes with more slots
THE drive-thru vaccination in the city of Manila resumes on Monday, August 16.
This was announced by Mayor Isko Moreno, as he urged those interested to reserve their slots via manila COVID19vaccine.ph, as the said vaccination will be done up to August 22, or for one whole week.
According to Moreno, the number of slots was increased to 200, from the former 100 during the launch of the drive-thru inoculation.
“You may schedule depending on your availability,” the mayor said, as he encouraged the motorists to bring a maximum of three persons so that a total of four may be jabbed altogether.
Moreno explained that only one needs to reserve a slot but all the occupants must be registered and should bring their QR code to avail of the free jabs.
Once again, the mayor reminded those who will go to the drive-thru vaccination that only four-wheeled vehicles are allowed in the meantime.
He thanked the vaccinating teams under the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office headed by director Arnel Angeles and the Manila Health Department under Dr. Poks Pangan for handling the drive-thru mass vaccination program well.
A total of 35,267 were vaccinated in public school sites as of 5 p.m. of August 13 despite the no walk-in policy and “strict scheduling” being implemented in the vaccination sites in public schools.
Meanwhile, Moreno announced that the national government has given Manila the some P34 million it needs to complete the amount needed to cover the same number of families that received the previous cash assistance under the social amelioration program (SAP).
The mayor thanked President Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Ano and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista for completing the cash aid, saying the city will no longer have to look for the needed additional funding.
It was learned that P1,488,630,000 was initially downloaded by the DSWD to Manila, compared to the P1,523,278,000 given in April. As such, 8,662 families will not be able to receive financial aid as they did then, so that Moreno directed Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) chief Re Fugoso to look for funds to cover the difference.
“Hindi na magaabono ang Maynila dahil nagpadala na ang national government ng kulang nating P34 million mahigit. Pumasok na po ito sa account,” Moreno said.
He commended Fugoso and all the workers under the MDSW for their swift and orderly distribution of the financial assistance, noting that some P304.3 million have already been distributed in just three days.
More than 18,000 were able to get their cash aid on the first day, over 26,000 on the second, and on the third day, more than 30,000 families.
Fugoso and her team will not rest as the SAP distribution will continue during the weekend, Moreno said, adding that all cities were given 15 days to finish the job.
Manila was cited by the DILG for its efficient and fast distribution of the same kind of cash assistance given in May, during which the city finished days ahead of the deadline given.
