By NG Seruela
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has turned over some 7,500 COVID-19 vaccines to the Batangas provincial government.
In today’s (July 5) Laging Handa public briefing, MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos said that the vaccines they handed over are only the initial donation. He said they coordinated with the Metro Manila mayors, who quickly responded, only on July 3.
“Ito po ay nai-turn over na po, ano, kulang-kulang 7,500, ito ay pauna pa lang, dahil ito ay biglaan, noong Sabado pa lang namin nai-coordinate sa mga alkalde, pero mabilisan po,” Abalos explained.
“Si Mayor Joy Belmonte ng Quezon City, nagbigay ng 1,500, si Mayor Menchie Abalos ng Mandaluyong ay nagbigay ng 1,000, si Mayor Lino Cayetano ng Taguig ay kaagad nagbigay ng 1,000, si Mayor Isko Moreno ng Maynila ay nagbigay ng 2,000. Si Mayor Marcy Tedoro ay nagbigay po ng 1,000 vaccines, Mayor Edwin Olivarez po ng Parañaque ay nagbigay ng 1,000,” he added.
The MMDA chief said the donated Sinovac vaccines are not a surplus of the Metro Manila LGUs. However, the MMC chose to donate vaccines as a sign of camaraderie for the people in Batangas affected by the volcanic activity of Taal. Many residents living within the volcano’s seven-kilometer danger zone have been evacuated to government shelters.
“Well, ito po ay hindi pa sobra, ito ay talagang gagamitin talaga nila, pero mas minabuti nila na mas kailangan ng mga kapatid po natin sa Batangas. Dahil alam ninyo, kung mag-e-evacuate ka, baka maghalu-halo po ang mga tao, kaya dapat talagang unahin na mabakunahan sila. Lahat po ito ay Sinovac,” he said. – jlo
