BUKUNAHAN KICKOFF. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers a Covid-19 vaccine to a minor recipient during the kick-off event of the three-day nationwide vaccination campaign at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City on Monday (Nov. 29, 2021). Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro and other health and local officials attended the event. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday commended the city government of Marikina under Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro for its aggressive response against the Covid-19 pandemic.
This, as Duque joined Teodoro and other national and local officials during the ceremonial kick-off of the nationwide vaccination drive dubbed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” at the Marikina Sports Complex.
“Pinaparating ko, sa ngalan ng Department of Health, ang aking saludo kay Mayor Marcy Teodoro. Tumatayo ako bilang saksi sa kanyang mga ginawa, mula sa pagtatag ng kanyang kauna-unahang molecular RT-PCR laboratory (I extend, on behalf of the Department of Health, my salute to Mayor Marcy Teodoro. I stand as a witness to his accomplishments, from the establishment of his first molecular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction laboratory),” Duque said in his speech.
To boost the city’s Covid-19 testing capabilities, the local government built the Marikina Diagnostic Laboratory at the onset of the pandemic last year.
“Ganun talaga ang leader, hindi titigil, hindi hihinto kong para sa kapakanan ng kanyang mga kababayan (That’s really how a leader is, he won’t stop for the sake of his constituents),” he added.
Duque also lauded the city’s healthcare workers for their sacrifices and service to the people despite the threat of the dreaded disease.
“Talagang walang humpay ang kanilang sakripisyo, tuluy-tuloy iyan, sa pangangalaga ng mga pasyente (Their sacrifice is really relentless, that’s continuous, taking care of patients),” he said.
Duque also praised Marikina for having inoculated 105 percent of its target population with first dose.
30,000 vaccinees in 3 days
Teodoro said the city government is hoping to inoculate all the 30,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine allotted for Marikina during the three-day nationwide vaccination campaign.
“Ang nakuha namin bakuna ay nasa 30,000. Kaya ang target namin sa isang araw ay maka 10,000 na babakunahan para sa ganun ay maka-contribute ang Marikina ng mga 30,000 for the national vaccination rollout (The vaccine we got was at 30,000. So our target in one day is to vaccinate 10,000 so that Marikina can contribute about 30,000 for the national vaccination rollout),” Teodoro said.
The national government aims to vaccinate 9 million people during the three-day mass vaccination event.
“Ang idea namin is to contribute to a greater number, madagdagan ang bilang ng mababakunahan para sa ganun, lumaki ang bilang ng binabakunahan natin (Our idea is to contribute to a greater number, increase the number of those who will be vaccinated for that, increase the number of those who are vaccinated),” he added.
Aside from Marikina Sports Complex, the city government has utilized three other vaccination hubs: Marikina Convention Center for the booster shots, Sto. Niño Elementary School for persons with comorbidities, and Marikina Elementary School for the first dose vaccination.
Teodoro said walk-ins are allowed at Marikina Elementary School for individuals who have yet to receive their first dose, but he urged them to preregister a day before.
“Ang inaasahan namin magwa-walk-in din ay mga non-residents, dahil naka-425,000 na indibidwal na tayong nabakunahan na fully vaccinated na. With a population of 488,000 sa Marikina, lagpas na ito doon sa target na herd immunity (We also expect non-residents to walk in, as we already have 425,000 vaccinated individuals who are fully vaccinated. With a population of 488,000 in Marikina, this is beyond the target of herd immunity),” he stressed.
To achieve the goal of completely inoculating 54 million Filipinos by year-end, the government has set another three-day inoculation drive from Dec. 15 to 17. (PNA)
