Dolomite beach as COVID-19 vaccination site? Why not, says Manila mayor

A general view of people trooping to the Manila baywalk dolomite beach along Roxas Boulevard in the City of Manila  (Ted ALJIBE / AFP) file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is open to using the Manila Bay dolomite beach as a COVID-19 vaccination site.

“Kung feasible, bakit hindi? That’s a very good idea. Why not? Tapos na ba ‘yung construction nila, safe ba sa mga tao? ‘Yun naman ang concern natin palagi eh, ‘yung safety ng mga tao,” Moreno told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the possibility of using the beach as a vaccination site.

(If it’s feasible, why not? That’s a very good idea. Why not? But is the construction already completed, is it safe for the people? That’s always our concern, the public’s safety.)

Moreno was at the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden which was tapped as the city’s latest vaccination site for minors and senior citizens.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (Screenshot from Radyo Inquirer)

“Pansinin nyo, kapag pumipili tayo ng lugar, secluded halos lagi ‘yung mga lugar. Geographically feasible sa gagawing function doon sa particular na action plan, Pero okay ‘yun, bakunahan sa dolomite,” the mayor added.

(If you notice, when we pick a place for vaccination, it’s a bit secluded. It’s geographically feasible to hold that function for a particular action plan. But I think it’s okay, holding vaccinations at the dolomite beach.)

The dolomite beach project, which cost the government P389 million, earlier drew flak from the public as groups called it a “completely absurd” effort that would hardly solve “the environmental degradation problems of the bay.”

In defending the project, Malacañang had said that the project will benefit the mental health of Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Manila recently opened three drive-thru booster shot facilities for 4-wheel vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles and for drivers of public utility vehicles and delivery vans.

These are in addition to the continuing vaccination drives in community health centers and designated public schools and shopping malls in the city.

Moreno, meanwhile, renewed his call for the public to get their booster shots as soon as possible, saying the city’s vaccination sites are open to all.

‘Isko on no vax, no ride’

The mayor, who is running for president, was also asked about the “no vaccination, no ride” policy in Metro Manila.

He said that while workers are exempted from the policy, this should not be an excuse for unvaccinated employees not to get inoculated against COVID-19.

“Pipilitin nating unawain ang mga tao, abutin ang tao hanggang kaya natin. But at the end of the day, you have to decide. Kasi, you have to be responsible to others,” he said.

(We should understand the people, and reach out to them as long as we can. But at the end of the day, you have to decide. Because you have to be responsible to others.)

“As a citizen, meron ka ring responsibilidad sa iyong pamayanan, sa iyong bansa. Hindi lang gobyerno ang may responsibilidad sa tao,” he added.

(As a citizen, you have a responsibility to your community, to your country. The government doesn’t hold the sole responsibility to the people.)

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