Manila LGU prepares P1.1B add'l budget for local COVID-19 vaccination program

The city government of Manila dedicated an additional budget of P1.1 billion for its own COVID-19 vaccination plan from its 2021 budget, Mayor Isko Moreno said on Tuesday.

Interviewed on CNN Philippines, Moreno said the city government will realign the budget originally allotted for infrastructure projects such as road improvement.

“’Yung 2021 na preparation ng annual budget, nag-float kami na what we call ‘soft budgeting’, wherein ‘yung mga infrastructure for road improvement and all other things, itinabi muna namin,” he said.

“Nilagay namin sa what we call soft budgeting. At doon possibleng kunin pa at magkaroon kami ng access about P1.1 billion. Ito, on top of the P250 million,” he added.

The city government earlier said it already allotted P250 million for the local vaccination program.

Moreno said that around 326,330 people will be prioritized in the local vaccination program, including senior citizens, medical frontliners, and the working age group.

“Meron na bang plano? Yes, we have. And I think everybody should do the same while we are awaiting for the approved, certified, safe, and effective vaccine for the country,” he said.

“In fact, we are already preparing our card, the vaccine card,” he added.

According to Moreno, the average number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Manila per day was around 30. The total active cases in the city was 359 as of Monday. —KBK, GMA News