Isko: Response must be faster than spread

MANILA, Philippines — The city government is working to speed up its response to the spread of COVID-19, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said over the weekend.

“We have to be ahead of the situation. Our capacity should always be ahead of the numbers of infection,” he said.

According to Moreno, the city government formulated its vaccination plan even before COVID cases surged in the country in 2021. As early as Jan. 5, the city government signed a contract to procure 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and another contract for 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine on April 28.

Moreno said the city government has also appropriated about P250 million for the procurement of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

With the vaccines, the city government was able to effectively execute a mass vaccination at 22 sites across six districts while also conducting home service vaccination for bedridden patients, he said.

Simulation exercises were also held in the city’s hospitals to train medical frontliners ahead of the vaccination drive, which started in March.

Moreno said the city government also hired additional doctors, nurses and medical technicians.

“Vaccination should be faster than infection. Vaccination is the solution,” he said.