Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that the local government of Manila is allotting an additional P1.1 billion from its 2021 budget for the city’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination plan.
The city government will realign its budget for infrastructure projects such as road improvement, Moreno said in his interview with CNN Philippines.
“’Yung 2021 na preparation ng annual budget, nag-float kami na what we call ‘soft budgeting’, wherein ‘yung mga infrastructure for road improvement and all other things, itinabi muna namin,” he said.
Earlier, the city government has already allotted P250 million for the city’s vaccination effort.
“Nilagay namin sa what we call soft budgeting. At doon possibleng kunin pa at magkaroon kami ng access about P1.1 billion. Ito, on top of the P250 million,” he added.
More than 326,000 city residents will be the priority in the local vaccination program, including senior citizens, medical frontliners, and the working age group.
“Meron na bang plano? Yes, we have. And I think everybody should do the same while we are awaiting for the approved, certified, safe, and effective vaccine for the country,” he said.
“In fact, we are already preparing our card, the vaccine card,” he added. RJ Espartinez