(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Ten areas experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases are now among the priority for the government’s distribution of vaccines against the severe disease, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the National Task Force against COVID-19 is already addressing the increasing cases of COVID-19 in different areas in the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte likewise ordered “equitable distribution” of COVID-19 vaccines, he added.
“Ibig sabihin, ang priority na natin is Metro Manila Plus 8 plus 10. ‘Yung Plus 10 areas are the areas na nakaka-experience po ngayon ng surges, so we hear you and they will be released, forthcoming ito,” he said in a press conference.
(This means, our priority now is Metro Manila Plus 8 plus 10. The Plus 10 areas are the areas that are experiencing surges of COVID-19. So, we hear you and they will be released, this is forthcoming.)
Roque did not specify which areas constitute the “Plus 10” and is yet to respond to INQUIRER.net’s query on the matter.
The priority areas, known as the “NCR Plus 8,” comprised Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Rizal.
The Philippines has so far received over 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, eight million of which have already been administered.