Vaccine supply imbalance between NCR, provinces should be resolved, says ex-VP Binay
FILE Former Vice President Jejomar Binay
MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, now a senatorial aspirant, on Thursday called on the national government to address the “imbalance” in vaccine allocation between the National Capital Region (NCR) and local government units (LGUs) outside of it.
“Hindi lang dapat sa Metro Manila concentrated ang supply ng bakuna. Lahat ng mamamayan, kahit na nasa probinsya, dapat mabakunahan,” said Binay through Twitter on Thursday.
(The supply of vaccines should not be concentrated only in Metro Manila. All citizens, even in the provinces, should be vaccinated.)
He then continued his sentiments in a separate statement, pointing out that many local officials outside NCR repeatedly requested additional supply for vaccines but to no avail.
“This imbalance should be immediately resolved in favor of LGUs outside NCR,” said Binay.
“Kung gusto nating makabangon agad ang bansa, bakunahan ang lahat, hindi lang ang iilan,” he added.
(If we want the country to recover quickly, vaccinate everyone, not just the few.)
According to the Department of Health, only the NCR is close to hitting the target population of 70 percent at 91.10 percent of the target as of Nov. 10. In contrast, no other regions have surpassed 50 percent of their respective target populations.
The country is also set to undergo a massive three-day vaccination drive on Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, coinciding with the commemoration of Bonifacio Day on Nov. 30.
The government said it aims to inoculate 15 million individuals against COVID-19 in this vaccination program.
So far, as of Sunday Nov. 14, over 31 million Filipinos have completed the required COVID-19 doses.
Meanwhile, the country on Wednesday, Nov. 17 has begun administering booster shots to medical frontliners nationwide.
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