Labella bares priority for COVID-19 vaccine

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has disclosed that the medical frontliners “who are really exposed” will be prioritized in the COVID-19 vaccination in the city.

Labella said also included in the priority are the military or police personnel, senior citizens, and the poorest of the poor.

The mayor said he is contemplating issuing a memorandum to all barangays to identify those who they consider as the poorest of the poor that expressed willingness to get themselves a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“They are in the position to give us a list of those interested to allow themselves to be given a shot of the vaccine,” said Labella.

Labella said the target is to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the city’s population.

But, he clarified that the vaccination will not be compulsory.

“We cannot force them to avail of the vaccine if they do not want (it),” he said.

Labella earlier disclosed that Cebu City will be among the priority areas in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

He said they are yet to determine the number of vaccines the city will receive but he assured that the city government will augment whatever the national government will give.

The city has allocated a budget of P500 million for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The City Council already approved P400 million, which is included in the 2021 annual budget, and Labella said the city will have a supplemental budget amounting to P100 million to be able to complete the amount for the vaccine.

Vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., reportedly told him that if the city will purchase the vaccine, the same will undergo a tripartite agreement among the supplier, national government and the local government.

“I am already considering but I have to wait for the FDA approval and go signal from the vaccine czar, Sec. Galvez,” said Labella. — GMR (FREEMAN)