ILOILO City – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Inter Agency Task Force chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez are coming over next week.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo Vega will also join Galvez and Roque.
“They are coming to Iloilo City early next week with the needed supplies and solutions,” Treñas announced yesterday.
Roque and Galvez called to inform him that they were looking for solutions for the city’s concerns.
These included lack of coronavirus disease 2019 (vaccines); the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) unpaid bills to hospitals here amounting to almost P1 billion; lack of medical personnel and COVID medicines; and lack of equipment like ventilators and high flow oxygen cannula.
“I will wait for them so I will know how these problems can be resolved for my beloved Ilonggos,” he added.
‘FRIENDS AGAIN?’
This came as both Treñas and Roque had a sort of “parinigan.”
Roque, for his part, denied blaming the Ilonggos for the recent spike in COVID-19 cases here (as what Treñs earlier pointed out).
According to the spokesman, Treñas might have “misunderstood” his statement as he was just emphasizing the importance of the minimum public health standards to combat the deadly virus.
“What I meant was, bagama’t nariyan na ang bakuna, habang wala pa tayong containment at population protection, mask, hugas, iwas pa rin ang first line of defense,” Roque said.
“That is my message to everyone where there is a surge of COVID-19 cases. Lambing po ‘yan. (Mayor Treñas) knows I am Ilonggo,” added Roque, whose mother is from Jaro district.
Earlier, Treñas, in an interview with One News’ “Sa Totoo Lang”, lambasted Roque for blaming Ilonggos’ supposed lack of discipline for the fast transmission here.
“Mas mabilis ang bunganga niya sa utak niya. I think as an intelligent person, dapat mauna ang utak mo sa bunganga mo. Instead of helping Iloilo City, he’s blaming Ilonggos. What kind of Secretary are you?” Treñas said.
“Ang masakit pa, tumataas ang kaso namin, kami pa ang may kasalanan. Ano ba ‘yan? Hindi naman tama ‘yan. Instead of trying to look for ways to help out, he (Roque) is blaming us. What kind of person are you?” he added.
VACCINE ARRIVALS
On the other hand, upon the request of Treñas backed up by appeals of various sectors here, the city received 5,850 doses of Pfizer vaccines and 20,000 doses of Sinovac.
“The Pfizer vaccines will be given as first doses prioritizing seniors and those with comorbidities. We will do the rollout at the soonest possible time,” Treñas said.
The city mayor also mentioned that Galvez and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque assured him of additional 50,000 more Sinovac vaccines.
He added that if these arrived, the city will operate four vaccination centers – Central Philippine University (Jaro), Ateneo de Iloilo (Mandurriao), Iloilo Convention Center (Mandurriao) and University of San Agustin Gym (City Proper),” said Treñas./PN
