To address the surge in Covid-19 cases outside Metro Manila, a lawmaker on Tuesday announced the launching of “vaccine express” in Mindanao with 20,000 drivers and vendors as initial beneficiaries.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro has confirmed that the Covid Vaccine Express program of Vice President Leni Robredo will soon reach Mindanao, particularly in his province, Cagayan de Oro.
Rodriguez said they are already ironing out the preparation for the implementation of the program where 20,000 drivers of tricycle, habal habal, motorcycle, jeepney and taxi and even market vendors will benefit from the vaccination drive.
He added that the initial vaccination would rollout in four areas in Cagayan de Oro, adding the program would later on be renamed as “Bayanihan E-Konsulta.”
Aside from Cagayan de Oro, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is also open to bring the vaccine express in other areas in Visayas and Mindanao to include Davao City.
Atty. Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman in the Office of the Vice President (OVP), had earlier said that they are willing to help Davao City in its efforts against the Covid-19, but only if Mayor Sara Duterte would not hinder them and if they will not be accused of politicking.
Gutierrez emphasized that Robredo’s initiative should not be seen or described as politicking, as opposed to the accusation against her by Mayor Duterte. The OVP’s Covid-19 programs have already reached Cebu, Tuguegarao, Palawan and other areas.
It can be recalled that Robredo offered a suggestion for Davao City to apply or replicate the system implemented in Cebu City to curb the increase of Covid-19 cases in their city. This after the Davao City has recorded its biggest single-day Covid-19 cases on June 17 and has even surpassed Quezon City as having the highest number of average daily cases in the first week of June.
But Mayor Duterte lashed out at Robredo and told the Vice President to “refrain from giving advice if she knows nothing about what is happening on the ground.”
Currently, Mayor Duterte and Robredo are seen to be the potential closest rivals in the upcoming 2022 elections.