DILG to coordinate with MMC on vaccination areas amid Habagat

After being called out by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Sunday that it will discuss with the Metro Manila Council (MMC) plans for temporary relocation of some flood-prone vaccine centers as rains from Habagat continue affecting the country. 

In an interview over "Dobol B TV, " DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the department will hold a meeting with MMC chairman and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. on Sunday morning to identify venues where citizens can safely get vaccines amid continuous rains.

"Makikipaguganayan po tayo kay Mayor Edwin Olivarez at MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos para  mag-imbentaryo ng lugar. Ililipat muna natin habang may Habagat (Southwest Monsoon)," said Malaya, adding that they will also work with other local government units (LGUs) in vaccine logistics.

(We will coordinate with Olivarez and Abalos for inventory of vaccine sites. We will first relocate vaccination site while the Southwest Monsoon is upon us.)

Likewise, Malaya pointed out that vaccine recipients flocking at schools usually wait in line, and sometimes on flooded areas.

Also included as an item in the meeting's agenda are possible approaches at preventing tensions to erupt among residents lining up for long hours for their vaccine jab, Malaya said.

"Automatic na-e-excite at pumipila, nagkakaroon ng tensyon na ganito. Isa ito sa paguusapan natin kung paano mababawasan ang ganitong insidente," the DILG spokesman said, adding that the police force will help diffuse tension in vaccine queues.

(Some are excited to get vaccinated and tensions could erupt in long ques. We will talk about how we will reduce incidents like these.)

Nonetheless, Malaya welcomed the increase of vaccine confidence even as monsoon rains continue to drench Metro Manila and other provinces.

For his part, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles advised LGUs to fix their appointment system to ensure that vaccine recipients are spared from the trouble of lining up for long hours, and sometimes on flooded streets.

"Siguro dapat magkaroon ng queueing system, scheduling at appointment sa bakuna para 'di magkaroon ng ganoong klaseng pila," said Nograles in another Dobol B interview.

Malaya and Nograles  have spoken up after President Duterte said on Saturday night's public address that he is ordering LGUs stop making people wait in line under the rain and in flooded areas during vaccination.

Duterte got irked upon seeing videos and photos of vaccine recipients lining up in knee-deep floodwater early in the morning to get their turn to be vaccinated.

Duterte even called for "commonsense" among LGUs in situations where people are exposed to the elements, standing in the flood, and exposed to the risk of being infected by water-borne, and rainy season viruses.  

The Philippines has so far fully inoculated 5.5 million individuals, still a far cry from the 50 to 70 million 2021 target  to achieve herd immunity. —LBG, GMA News