PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City (Image from pnp.gov.ph website)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police’s Medical Reserve Force (MRF) will be on standby to assist in the vaccination programs during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Sunday.
Metro Manila mayors earlier announced that they will aim to inoculate 250,000 individuals a day during the two-week lockdown.
“The PNP’s [MRF] will be on standby in case they will be tapped in the vaccination process during the two-week ECQ,” said Eleazar.
“Malaki-laki ang 250,000 na katao kada araw kaya’t tutulong ang PNP para masigurong magiging maayos, mabilis at ligtas ang bakunahan sa buong Metro Manila,” he added.
(Inoculating 250,000 people per day is a lot, so the PNP will help to ensure that vaccinations will be efficient, fast and safe throughout Metro Manila.)
Eleazar then tasked police commanders to coordinate with local government officials to discuss the vaccination process during the ECQ.
“I am also directing the NCRPO to prepare the deployment of additional cops and a contingency plan for this vaccination. Ihahanda din natin ang assets ng PNP kung sakaling kailanganin ito para sa paghahatid ng bakuna sa ibang lugar (we will also prepare PNP assets in case their assistance is needed in vaccine delivery),” the chief police said.
Metro Manila will be placed under the strictest quarantine classification from August 6 to August 20 after local chief executives appealed for stricter quarantine protocols amid the rising cases of the more-transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant.
Only essential travel and services will be allowed during the ECQ period.
Before the scheduled lockdown, however, Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine “subject to heightened restrictions with additional restrictions” until August 5.
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