MANILA -- With the ongoing surge in cases amid the continued threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr., highlighted the important role of the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) in addressing the rising number of cases and the increasing healthcare utilization in hospitals around the country.

“Ang One Hospital Command Center po, para sa kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan, ay may mahalagang papel na ginagampanan sa ating COVID-19 response. Mini-monitor nila at nagbibigay ito ng real-time data ng mga available na kama sa mga hospital hindi lamang dito sa Metro Manila kundi po sa buong Pilipinas,” said Secretary Roque in a press briefing today, August 10, 2021, which was held at the OHCC headquarters at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The Palace official also urged the public to call the OHCC before bringing a patient to any hospital to know beforehand whether there are available beds that can accommodate the patient.

OHCC head and Department of Health Undersecretary Leopoldo “Bong” Vega, in the same press briefing, said that the OHCC receives an average of 98-105 calls per day about two weeks ago, but by the last week of July to the start of August, calls received by the OHCC has increased to some 300 plus, averaging 350 to 370 calls per day.

Usec Vega, who is also Treatment Czar of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, reported that healthcare utilization rate for the National Capital Region (NCR) is in the threshold of moderate risk. However, for intensive care units (ICU), Usec Vega said that there are hospitals that already reached high risk ICU utilization rate. Vega added that the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR is a preemptive response to reduce transmission and prevent healthcare systems from being overwhelmed.

Also in the same press briefing, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairperson Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. announced the decision of Metro Manila mayors to temporarily disallow exercise during the ECQ period citing the rising cases in the NCR, the highly transmissible characteristic of the Delta variant, and the need to protect children given that there are reports of children getting infected with the Delta variant.

On the vaccination targets especially during the ECQ period, Chair Abalos said that NCR local government units (LGUs) were able to do around 156,000 jabs a day, but have recently recorded some 203,000 to 204,000 jabs a day last week.

In San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora reported that as of August 9, 2021, the LGU has now completely vaccinated 78.03 percent of its population based on the Philippine Statistics Authority 2020 Census of 126,347 San Juan City population, and 74.4 percent based on the Asian development Bank 2021 population projection of 132,512. San Juan City, as of August 9, has vaccinated 147,421 individuals with first dose, and 98,590 individuals with a second dose.

Meanwhile, for the City of Mandaluyong, Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos reported that of the city’s 464,467 population, its eligible population is 325,127 of which 325,188 or 100.01 percent have already received a first dose as of August 9, 2021. Mayor Abalos also underscored that 31,257 or 105.07 percent of their senior population have been vaccinated with a first dose, while 25,597 of their Priority Group A2 population have already received their second dose.

For the municipality of Pateros, Mayor Miguel Ponce said that of its estimated population of around 70,000, of which around 56,000 is the target eligible population for vaccination, there are now 51,732 individuals who have received a first dose, while 30,846 are now fully vaccinated.

On another matter, Sec. Roque reported the announcement made by the country’s economic managers today on the 11.8 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the Philippine economy in the second quarter of 2021 from a negative 17 percent GDP in the same period last year—the highest GDP growth recorded since the fourth quarter of 1988.

“Nagagalak kami na nagkaroon tayo ng ganyang kataas na pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya and we’re hoping po na bagama’t na naglockdown ngayon ng two-weeks, na makakabawi pa rin tayo sa last quarter,” Roque said. (OPS-PCOO)