
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday disclosed that their city government plans to prioritize the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines over planned roadworks projects.
According to the local executive, they are looking into using the roadworks budget as backup in case more COVID-19 vaccines are needed in Manila
“Mayroon pa kaming sorpresa, kung talagang itong bakuna na ito ay ligtas na at pangangalagaan ang kalusugan ng tao, aasa sa amin, uunahin ko ang tao bago ang kalsada,” Moreno said.
[We have another surprise, if this vaccine is safe and would ensure health for our people, you will guarantee that we will prioritize our people before our roads.]
“Kaya ko dinelay ang budget kasi may pinasok na probisyon na kung saan, kakanselin namin ang pagawaing kalye kahit magkanda-lubak-lubak ang Maynila, I don’t care. What matters is we have vaccine for every people. I think with 250 million, it may not suffice to particular company’s price but ot another company it may.”
[The budget for next year was delayed because I placed a provision there that we will cancel all the roadworks even if Manila’s roads have issues, I don’t care.]
“So worse-case scenrio, mayroon pa akong fall back for the people of Manila. Mayroon pa akong mapagkuhanan (I have more sources to fund for the vaccine.)”
Previously, the city government said they will allow P200 million under the 2021 budget for the purchase of their vaccine.