MMDA’s Abalos: NCR mayors not complacent amid high vaccination rate

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos visited vaccination sites in some parts of Metro Manila to ensure an orderly process amid the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. FILE PHOTO from the MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors are not complacent amid a huge number of the National Capital Region’s population already vaccinated against COVID-19, coupled with a low infection rate, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benhur Abalos said Monday.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s late-night briefing, Abalos said NCR mayors are eyeing to ramp up vaccination efforts, with the aim of fully vaccinating 86 percent of Metro Manila’s residents by November 10.

“Hindi po nagiging complacent ang ating mga alkalde, ang ating mga LGUs, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po in fact ang ating mga granular lockdowns po ay maganda po ang nangyayari, ang ating contact tracing po is 1 is to 16, maganda po itong ratio na ito,” Abalos told Duterte.

(Our Metro Manila mayors are not being complacent here, because, in fact, our local government units are still doing granular lockdowns which have a good effect on the situation.  Meanwhile, our contact tracing ratio is 1 to 16, and this is a good ratio.)

“Of course tama po kayo ay two doses, close to 77 percent, at ang tantsa po namin by next month […] ang target po namin by November 10, ito’y magiging 86 percent with two dose sa Metro Manila, kayang-kaya ho ito,” he added.

(Of course, you are also correct that close to 77 percent have received two doses, and we are expecting that by next month, our target really is around 86 percent of Metro Manila residents would be fully vaccinated by November 10.)

Aside from this assurance, Abalos also revealed that they would be announcing a single policy to cover the whole of Metro Manila in terms of preparation for All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Abalos also added that the current curfew hours being enforced in Metro Manila may be changed as fewer COVID-19 cases were recorded.

“By tomorrow, meron po kaming polisiya na lahat ng Metro Manila mayors ay iisa lamang ang policy, ‘yon pong tungkol sa Undas na darating ay magkakaroon po kami ng polisiya dito, hindi ko lang po natatapos ‘yong resolution pero iisa lang ang boses ng mga mayors dito,” he explained.

(By tomorrow, we will release a policy that all Metro Manila mayors would have a single policy, about the preparations and measures for the upcoming All Souls Day, but I haven’t finished crafting the resolution.  But the mayors would have a single voice here.)

“Bukas po namin ia-announce and of course ang curfew, baka po i-adjust po ng mga mayors ito gawa nang pababa na po talaga ang mga kaso po rito,” he added.

(We will announce this tomorrow and of course, the curfew, maybe we and the mayors can adjust it because we are really seeing a downtrend in COVID-19 cases.)

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the country’s COVID-19 situation is improving, as a downward trend was observed across the country’s regions.

As of Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) tallied 8,292 new infections — way lower than the peak of the latest surge which went over 20,000 cases in a day.  The 8,292 new cases pushed the country’s active COVID-19 case count to 98,894

READ: PH logs 8,292 new COVID-19 infections; total now at 2,674,814

READ: PH records highest COVID-19 case count at 26,303 — DOH

Earlier, President Duterte said almost 50 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and that  23 million individuals are now fully vaccinated.

/MUF