QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The City Government of San Juan on Monday shared an important milestone of reaching its 70% jab target after successfully inoculating the city’s 100% target population or a total of 96, 610 constituents at least with first anti-COVID vaccination dose.
It was March 6, 2020, when the first local transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines crossed the threshold of San Juan City following the trail of one patient who has reportedly frequented a prayer hall in Greenhills Shopping Center.
Mayor Francis Zamora, however, remained steadfast to rewrite the history by turning San Juan as one of the first local cities to end the prevalence of COVID-19.
“Bagamat dito po sa San Juan nagsimula ang first local transmission ng COVID-19 sa Pilipinas, dito rin natin unang tatapusin ang COVID sa San Juan (Even if the first local transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines emerged in San Juan, here is also where we will put an end to COVID),” Mayor Zamora said, citing the good working relationship among the national and local governments, as well as the medical frontline workers and the residents of San Juan.
Mayor Zamora also emphasized that while their target population has already been immunized, the main goal remains to be the inoculation of every eligible constituent in San Juan City based on the prioritization framework of the local vaccination program.
At present, there are two operational vaccination sites in the city along with the prospective launch of the 3rd vaccination site in Greenhills V-Mall as part of the momentous program. With its opening, San Juan will be able to administer 5,000 inoculations per day from its previous 3,000 to 4,000 daily jab target.
Expressing his optimism, the San Juan Mayor also expressed his willingness to support the national government in providing an equitable COVID-19 response among Filipinos through vaccinating the constituents of other cities as well after the residents and non-residents of San Juan given that the deployment of vaccines in the city will further continue.
Meanwhile, key officials Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, and Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque who also joined the symbolic program of San Juan commended the performance of the city as they gave a reminder to all concerned stakeholders that the next challenge is to fully vaccinate the 96, 610 constituents by the end of August this year wherein 29, 313 of which has already completed the two doses.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, on the other hand, reiterated the balance between economy and health as businesses in San Juan slowly gain resumption.
This was backed by Arch. Renee Bacani of Ortigas Malls who received thanks from the Muslim Traders Association in Greenhills citing the aid and innovative solutions that the company has accorded them during the temporary closure of the establishment for safety and compliance. Among of which was the rental grade packages that entitled the tenants to a waiver of rent up to 50-70% during the period of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
To date, San Juan City LGU is at a vaccination rate of 104.15%, exceeding their initial 92,759 or 100% target population. The figures are out of the total 132,512 population projection of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the city of San Juan.
Consequently after the program, Secretary Roque and Secretary Lopez joined Mayor Zamora in affixing the "100% Vaccinated" seals to some trader and merchant establishments at the Greenhills Shopping Center. This initiative is geared towards lessening the hesitancy of consumers to shop in the said mall following its first reported case of COVID-19 local transmission in March 2020. (PIA-NCR)
