QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III highlighted the strong partnership between the national government, local government units, and private sector in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Ako po ay talagang nagpapasalamat na kayo po ay sumusuporta sa ating national deployment and vaccination plan. Hindi po ito kakayanin ng national government lamang itong pagganap ng ating vaccination program, hindi kakayanin lamang ng ating local government units, hindi kakayanin ng mga taga pribadong sektor,” Duque said during the symbolic event to mark 10 million administered jabs, Monday in Valenzuela City.

(I am truly grateful for your support to the national deployment and vaccination plan. The national government cannot do the vaccination program by itself, it cannot be done by the local governments alone, nor by those belonging to the private sector by themselves.)

 Duque personally administered the vaccine to a senior citizen during the symbolic event. 

The  symbolic vaccination at the Valenzuela Astrodome was held as the country breached the 10 million mark in total anti-COVID jabs administered.

As of June 27, a total of 10,065,414 doses were given nationwide. Of this number, 7,538,128 Filipinos received their first dose while 2,527,286 have been fully vaccinated.

NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government, for the past two weeks administered over 1.4 million jabs, surpassing its initial target of 1 million shots per week.

Galvez also expressed confidence that when the country receives larger vaccine shipments by July from different manufacturers, the government will be able to vaccinate at least 10 million per month.

“Yung nakikita po namin sa mga darating na araw makakaya na po natin by July ‘yung 500,000. I’m pretty sure na this coming July, we can easily vaccinate 6 to 8 million once na naging steady ang supply natin makapag-vaccinate tayo ng even 10 million a month.” Galvez said.

“We have achieved a significant milestone though nakita natin ‘yung 10 million is still small compared sa ating 70 million target. But we will make sure that population protection can be achieved in the NCR before December time,” he added.

Also present during the event were NTF deputy chief implementer and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon Jr., Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, and other city government officials. (PIA-NCR with reports from OJT Janna Pineda)