This Week in Metro Manila (February 13 to 19, 2021)

Motorists can now use the General Tinio U-turn slot in Caloocan City. The slot was reopened by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) after receiving complaints of heavy traffic in the area. The slot, which was closed last September 2020, will remain open until the construction of MMDA’s proposed elevated bus ramps is finished, according to MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos [2].

Food delivery service Lalafood will cease operations on February 16 after two years in service. According to their statement released last February 8, the cease in operations is due to the company’s decision to focus on their primary delivery services, Lalamove [3].

The initial batches of COVID-19 vaccines from different pharmaceutical companies from all over the world will arrive in the Philippines by mid-February, Malacañang announced last February 8 [4]. Initial shipped vaccines, which make up a total of 117,000 doses, will be coming from Pfizer.

Upon arriving in the country, the vaccines will be screened by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), then it will be stored in the Department of Health’s (DOH) warehouses before the planned distributions to designated COVID-19 hospitals in Metro Manila [5].

The designated hospitals are the Lung Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Philippine General Hospital. The employees and health workers in these hospitals will be prioritized for the vaccination. Meanwhile, it is still uncertain if the National Kidney Transplant Institute will be included.

To prepare for the vaccination drive, the hospitals have already conducted their own vaccine process simulations. The specific number of shots that will be given to the hospitals are not released.

A budget of PhP30,000 is allotted for each Pasay City resident who might get sick due to side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Pasay City local government announced last February 8. Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano explained that the budget was already allocated before the pandemic as part of the “Take Care, I Care” program, which aims to provide help to residents who might obtain injuries or sickness from different immunization campaigns [6]. The budget was initially PhP25,000 but it was raised to PhP30,000. Residents can avail the financial assistance in both local and private hospitals in Pasay City.

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates and lockdown news in Metro Manila.