Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, collectively known as “NCR-Plus,” can administer 120,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines daily with enough supply, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.

At a hearing at the House of Representatives, Galvez said the figure was brought about by simulations done by supply chain experts.

“[They] have also provided some sort of simulations wherein the NCR-Plus will have 120,000 jabs a day with the requirement that the NCR could have a steady supply of 3.3 million [doses] monthly,” he said.

To do so, Galvez said the government would designate “mega vaccination sites” such as malls, arenas and gymnasiums.

The NCR-Plus bubble is under modified enhanced community quarantine until end-April.

As of April 19, 11,242,391 persons from Metro Manila have undergone Covid-19 testing.

More than 423,000 yielded positive results.

The National Capital Region has 58,752 active Covid-19 cases.

Galvez earlier said that the Philippine government was expecting drawbacks in its Covid-19 vaccination drive this month due to vaccine supply issues.

So far, 1,353,107 Filipinos have been vaccinated against Covid-19, Galvez said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro