The national government on Thursday (July 1) delivered medical equipment and around 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Iloilo to support the local government’s response against the pandemic.
The supplies were carried on Philippine Air Force (PAF) C130 aircraft and were personally handed over by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega was also in Iloilo City to offer assistance.
“The President of course recognizes as a former mayor that it is the job of a mayor to ask for assistance when needed. And it is the responsibility of the national government to respond,” Roque said.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he requested the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for equipment and more vaccines last month.
“I thank the national government for sending us 27 ventilators, 31 bilevel positive airway pressure [machines], 5 high-flow nasal cannulas, 12,000 PPE [personal protective equipment], and 50,000 doses sang [of] Sinovac vaccines. We still have a long way to go, but we are hoping that they continue to support us in this battle,” Treñas wrote on Facebook.
The city is currently under moderate risk category for COVID-19 and is placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until July 15.
According to Vega, Iloilo is experiencing a problem in healthcare utilization, especially in its intensive care units (ICU).
“Sa Iloilo City, kailangan talaga mag-usap ang medical director and institutions on the allocation of beds, specifically for the critical care,” Vega said, which Roque supported, noting that it could help in “deescalating to GCQ [general community quarantine] with restrictions.” – Report from Allan Francisco/AG- jlo
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