MANILA -- Some 3,089,976 Filipinos are now fully vaccinated, as of the July 7, 2021 data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard, according to Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr.
“Conservative number pa po ito at inaasahan natin na tataas pa ang bilang kapag dumating na ang mga numero mula sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at pribadong sektor,” said Secretary Roque in a press briefing on July 8, 2021.
The Palace official also mentioned that as of July 7, 2021, a total of 12,489,777 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country.
Sec. Roque also announced that two batches of AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries are expected this week. “Una, ang AstraZeneca na donasyon ng Japanese government. Mamaya pong gabi ang dating nyan. Pangalawa, ang AstraZeneca na galing po sa COVAX Facility,” Roque said.
Roque added that aside from the expected AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries, two more batches of Sputnik V vaccines are also expected to be delivered this week, which is meant for both component 1 and 2.
“Tara na po at magpabakuna, lalo na ang mga lolo at lola at iyong mga may co-morbidities, at magkaroon ng dagdag na proteksyon,” said Sec. Roque. He also reminded the public that all vaccines are free, and for the public to get their second dose.
On another matter, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Secretary Jacinto Paras said that the postponement of the BARMM elections, the death penalty bill, and the military pension reform bills, remain as part of the priority legislative bills of the Duterte Administration.
Secretary Paras said that a top priority also of the President now is the approval by the Senate of the bill that would create a government department for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and migrant workers.
Paras added that the President is also pushing for the resolution of the BARMM issue to resolve conflicts arising from it. He said that the issue is already being considered by the Senate, and hearings have been conducted in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, on the military pension reform bills, Paras said there are issues that still have to be resolved, including pushing for a CTRP-4 (Comprehensive Tax Reform Program-Package 4) that will resolve certain taxation on certain sectors.
Other priority bills of the President include the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act, which the Executive will try to push for the passage of, said Paras.
On the passage of the President’s reform bills, Sec. Roque cited the importance of close coordination and working relationship between the Executive and the Congress. “I think Congress naman po defers to bills which have been certified as urgent by the Executive and in reality, we also have support in both Houses of Congress for these initiatives,” Roque said. (OPS-PCOO)
