MABALACAT CITY, PAMPANGA – With P50-million funding earmarked from its coffers, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo eyes COVID-19 immunization for the Mabalaqueños by establishing a central hub and six (6) vaccination centers.
The city mayor disclosed that the LGU will utilize its Rural Health Units (RHUs) for the city’s immunization program when the vaccines become readily available for the people of the city.
During an assembly last January 12, Mayor Garbo and the rest of the member-mayors of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) resolved to purchase vaccines from the British-Swedish drug-maker AstraZeneca due to its safety, higher efficacy, and low maintenance requirements.
The Mabalacat City Government is also looking at a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca and the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the acquisition deal for the said vaccine shots.
“Mayroon na po tayong prosesong ginagawa at may inilabas na po akong Executive Order na tinatalaga ko ang mga Mabalacat City Task Force for COVID-19 vaccination,” said Mayor Garbo.
The initial stage of the vaccination will prioritize the city’s medical workers in the frontline, indigent senior citizens, uniformed personnel and other frontline workers.
“Tayo po ay kumikilos na at sisikapin po natin na ang lahat ay mabigyang-bakuna. Bukod sa ating pondo, tayo po ay dudulog at maghihintay din sa ilalaan ng national at provincial government sa ating bawat localities,” the city mayor added.
The mayor also assures the appropriate safekeeping of the vaccines through a central storage hub complete with transport and cooler units.
