Labella promises COVID-19 vaccines for city residents

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has vowed the city government will provide COVID-19 vaccine to city residents once it becomes available.

“In addition to the commitment of the national government, I have to discuss this with our Local Finance Committee and of course maybe with the Sangguniang Panlungsod, that we will provide this COVID-19 vaccine to our people in the City of Cebu,” Labella said in a virtual press conference yesterday.

“And of course, in addition, we will also see to it, discuss this with our City Health officials and Local Finance Committee to provide also anti-flu vaccine and anti-pneumonia vaccine to our health frontliners in the City of Cebu,” he added.

Labella said this has been the recommendation of the Department of Health as one of the ways to protect the health frontliners.

The mayor stressed that his administration's top priority is the health of the people, especially now that the world is going through a pandemic.

“Subay sa pronouncement sa national government, nga maghatag sila og vaccine once it's officially pronounced nga naa na gyu'y vaccine nga makaayo sa atong COVID cases, kita sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo, kay limitado raman ang gi-provide, ato kining dugangan kutob sa atong mahimo nga ang atong mga katawhan sa Dakbayan maka-avail gayod niining vaccine kung ma-officially pronounced na nga makaayo gikan sa atong authorities sa Food and Drug Administration. Maningkamot kami nga naa karon sa kagamhanan,” said Labella.

“Mao kini ang atong commitment sa atong mga katawhan. Under our administration, we will give priority to the health concerns of our people,” he said.

Labella said he will meet with the Local Finance Committee to discuss on the realignment of the 2020 and 2021 budget. This is also in collaboration with the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Statistics

As of Tuesday, August 4, 29 additional COVID-19 cases were reported in Cebu City per the update of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) in its official Facebook page.

The total cases stood at 9,123 with 2,741 active cases.

There were 47 new recoveries, bringing the total to 5,855, and five new deaths, putting the total to 527. — JMD (FREEMAN)