Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon expressed confidence that Iloilo City and the rest of the Western Visayas region would be able to address the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
“I have confidence in the ability of our local chief executives in Iloilo to prevent the further spread of the virus. We will overcome this together,” the Ilonggo senator said in a statement.
According to Drilon, he was assured by Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. that they will send to Iloilo City and Iloilo province, which are currently under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second most restrictive quarantine classification in the country.
“Salamat po sa inyong tulong sa aking mga kasimanwa. They are fearful that there will be no vaccines coming to them. This assurance will ease their worries,” he said.
During the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing yesterday, June 15, Galvez committed to expedite the delivery of additional 27,700 doses of vaccines – 16,700 doses of Sinovac and 11,000 doses of Pfizer.
The government has also allocated 35,100 doses of Pfizer to Region 6, according to Drilon, citing Galvez’s assurance.
During the surge, the government deployed 290,254 doses of vaccines in Western Visayas, including 80,000 doses of AstraZeneca and 210,254 doses of Sinovac, Galvez added.
The government had previously deployed 505,240 doses of vaccines in the region.
Meanwhile, Drilon encouraged Ilonggos to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“There is no better and more effective way to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19 than to get vaccinated. The best vaccine is the ones available, so register now and get vaccinated,” he said.IMT
