Central Luzon, Calabarzon included in vax allocation priority list
MANILA – The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 will bunch the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon (Region 3), and Calabarzon (Region 4-A) into one geographic location in terms of vaccine deployment and expedited strategy.
NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said mobility among the three regions is difficult to control due to proximity.
"We will now consider NCR, Region 3, and Region IV-A as one geographic location kasi nakita nating 'yung kanilang economic activity ay hindi pwedeng paghiwalayin (because we see that their economic activities cannot be separated)," he said during the arrival of the US-made Pfizer vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City late Thursday ni ght .
Galvez said the strategy was also recommended by the private sector.
"We are accelerating our vaccination in Region 3 and Region 4-A so that by November, halos magkapantay na ang vaccination program sa major cities ng Region 4-A, Region 3, at ng NCR, pati na rin sa Metro Cebu at Metro Davao (we can align the level of the vaccination program within the major cities of Region 4-A, Region 3, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao)," he added.
Galvez said the vaccine supply in the country is now stable while equitable distribution is assured, with more deliveries in the coming months.
To date, the Philippines has received more than 66.9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
The bulk of the latest delivery of 728,910 Pfizer vaccine doses will be allotted to the NCR while 51,480 will be sent to Cebu City and 92,430 to Davao City.