Pasig first LGU with COVID-19 plan approved by DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City is the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to have an approved COVID-19 vaccination plan, according to Mayor Vico Sotto.

“I was told that Pasig is the first LGU with a vaccination plan approved by the Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO),” Sotto said in a statement.

He made the announcement after the COVID-19 Vaccines CODE Team visited the city on Tuesday.

The DOH previously said that Pasig was among the cities being eyed by the national government for the early vaccine rollout, citing its preparations compared to other LGUs.

“The city’s Beat COVID-19 Task Force will continue to work with the national government agencies, WHO, private medical institutions and non-government organizations. They have been with us every step of the way,” Sotto said.

He said the local government’s program would proceed in three phases: pre-vaccination, vaccination and post-vaccination.

City hall aims to vaccinate over 33,000 residents weekly, Sotto said.

Pasig has 16 vaccination centers with three teams per site.

Sotto said the city is preparing to turn public schools into vaccination centers.

“Public schools are the best sites for our vaccination program because they have big space, enough rooms where social distancing can be observed and proper ventilation,” he said.

He said the city government would ask the Department of Education’s nod on the matter.

Pasig has recorded 10,231 cases of COVID-19 since March with 9,621 recoveries and 415 deaths. There were 195 active cases.