Manila COVID-19 vaccinations to continue amid rain –Isko Moreno

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said they will not halt COVID-19 vaccinations "come hell or high water" in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte's frustration over local government units allowing vaccine recipients to wait in long lines under the rain.

Moreno took to his Facebook livestream to announce that the city government will continue to work towards its objective of vaccinating 70% of Manila residents.

"We will continue to vaccinate, umulan, bumagyo, magkabaha (even during rains and when there are floods) ... Mga kababayan, maraming salamat sa inyo, kayo inspirasyon ko. Kaya hindi kami tumigil (Thank you Manila residents, you are our inspiration, that is why we did not stop.)," said Moreno.

He also thanked the private sector and other schools for providing additional venues for the city's vaccination program.

On the issue of flooding, Moreno blamed past leadership for the flooding and inadequate drainage system in the metropolis.

"Mga kababayan, pasensya na kayo, 'di ko kaya pigilin ang ulan. Patawarin ninyo ako, hindi ko kaya higupin ang baha, dala ng kapabayaan ng gobyerno sa mga nagdaang taon," said Moreno.

(I am sorry but I can't stop the rain and I can't get rid of floodwaters that were caused by the negligence of the past government.)

"These are effects of negligence, of poor planning in the body of water in our metropolis but then again we must move on we must continue to achieve the goal," he added.

The Manila city government administered a first COVID-19 vaccine dose to 76.77% of its residents. It has so far fully inoculated less than half of its residents who are eligible to get the vaccination. — DVM, GMA News