PARAÑAQUE CITY, Jan. 5 (PIA) -- Taguig City Government has allocated P1 billion of its budget for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine that will be provided for free among its residents.
In a news release, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano said the P1 billion is a part of the City’s 2021 P13.5B ‘recovery budget’.
“As early as September, we have already started planning for vaccination, it will complement our other ongoing anti-COVID programs like our aggressive mass testing and treatment," Cayetano said.
“We also wanted to make sure that testing continues throughout 2021, that our free testing in 30 health centers and two drive-through sites continue and we continue to invest in healthcare and treatment," Cayetano added.
Taguig's own molecular laboratory and disease surveillance units will also continue operations and will be funded in 2021 since disease surveillance is one of the most important aspects of preventing the spread of COVID and other infectious diseases even while the vaccine is being rolled out.
"We are working closely with the Joint Task Force and the Department of Health for the allotment of vaccine for Taguig but also already talking to suppliers for our own procurement once we are given the green light,” Cayetano said.
“We are also set to launch our model vaccine stations and out citizens ID this January. Both are important components of vaccine rollout plan," he added.
The mayor assures citizens that the city has prepared early for all COVID contingencies and reminds citizens that vaccination is important but it is just one component in the continued fight vs COVID.
"We need to continue to be vigilant and responsible," the mayor said.
According to the mayor, Taguig has the lowest active cases in Metro Manila end 2020 and also confident that they will lead in the transition to the new normal.
"Balance between finally opening up all remaining aspects of the economy and getting people back to work; getting kids back to school and finally getting all aspects of society back on track will be the most important goals of 2021," Cayetano stressed. (Taguig PIO/PIA-NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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