(FILE) Public school teachers receive Sinovac jabs during the COVID-19 vaccination effort of the City Government of Manila on April 13, 2021, at the Palacio de Maynila, Roxas Boulevard. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) are pushing for the start of COVID-19 vaccinations for essential workers (those in the A4 category of vaccinees) as they also propose the creation of “express lanes” for the vaccination of medical frontliners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Thursday.
MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said this proposal was supported by the mayors of Metro Manila “100 percent” as they also want this to be implemented “as soon as possible.”
“Itinutulak po ng mga alkalde na pati A4 ay bakunahan na, pati yung mga manggagawa,” Abalos said over Teleradyo. (The mayors are pushing for vaccination of A4 or the workers.)
Abalos added that Metro mayors are also pushing for an “express lane” for vaccinees in the A1 (medical frontliners), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (those with comorbidities) categories.
“So ang mangyayari yung magiging proposal po, yung mga manggagawa, A4 binabakunahan, tapos magkakaroon pa lamang ng express lane dito sa A1, A2 and A3,” he explained.
(What would happen is, while the workers are being vaccinated, there would be an express lane for A1, A2, and A3.)
In a separate interview with CNN Philippines on Thursday, Abalos pointed out that the proposed fast lane “makes sense because the vaccinees belong to the priority” sectors.
“Itong panukalang ito ay 100 percent sinusuportahan ng mga alkalde at hinihiling nga nila, na kung maaari sa madaling panahon ay implement na agad,” Abalos said in Teleradyo. (This measure is 100 percent being supported by our mayors, and they wish for it to be implemented as soon as possible.)
Meanwhile, Abalos said the Metro mayors also agreed with the proposal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to simplify the A4 category and include all workers, except those working from home.
“Ang classification kasi ng A4 ay magulo eh, maraming nakalagay,” he said over CNN Philippines. (The A4 category is so confusing, so many are included.)
“Sabi ng NEDA, simplehan na lang natin ito, (NEDA said let’s simplify this so) it would be all workers now, except working from home, that will be eligible now for vaccination,” he said.
“Hiningi ko na din ang advice nag mga mayors kagabi (I asked the mayors for their advice last night and they said) 100 percent, they agree with the new definition of the A4,” he added.
Abalos said a meeting with the Interagency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) was set for Thursday afternoon to discuss the Metro mayor’s proposals.