Quezon City, despite having the largest area and population in Metro Manila, now has the quickest, most convenient, quantitative and comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination process in the entire country.
Residents are in and out of vaccination sites in less than an hour, and this includes the registration process and post-vaccination reminders. Reason for improved rollouts is the implementation of “seamless”, “no waiting time” policy in servicing priority sectors. Procedures are carefully adjusted and streamlined. For example, they made taking of blood pressure optional for members of the A4 priority group since they are able-bodied individuals, without comorbidities like seniors.
Overcrowding, long queues and extended waiting time are avoided thru evaluation and allotment of “manageable number of vaccinees” via online booking and barangay assisted booking schemes. “Bakuna night sites” have been opened in strategic locations to lessen lines and minimize the congregation of a large number of people.
The city has already achieved a record-high 27,000 doses administered in just one day. As of last count, a total of 540,850 inoculations have been done, 414,850 of which received are first doses (24.4 percent of QC’s target population of 1.7 million) while 126,000 are now fully vaccinated (7.41 percent of total population).
Mayor Joy Belmonte says, “We owe so much to the efforts and sacrifices of our heroic front liners, staff, volunteers and LGU employees who worked tirelessly on this continuously expanding program. “To lead yourself, use your head, to lead others, use your heart. I believe you should always touch a person’s heart first, before you asked them for a hand, a meaningful inspiration and testament to the heart of our Qcitizens”.
With a hardworking and hands-on Mayor Belmonte at the helm, Quezon City will hopefully deliver not just a jab, but a knockout punch against this dreadful pandemic.
Gen. Eleazar’s crusade: Real cleansing of PNP
Philippine National Police Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar continues to amaze us with his untiring efforts to rid his agency of abusive, rogue and criminal cops under his Intensified Cleanliness Policy. He has regular live streaming sessions on Facebook and Youtube while conducting surprise inspections in the regions.
Recently, he placed under restrictive custody all Calabarzon policemen who took part in the “nanlaban”incident killing 16-year-old Johnny Maglinte and drug suspect Antonio Dalit, who was the subject of an arrest warrant, in Biñan, Laguna. PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) was also tasked to review operational lapses in the anti-drug operations and make corrections if proven to be true.
Eleazar says, “It is important for us to get to the truth to enable us to improve and be better public servants. It also enables us to rid the PNP ranks of rogues who are unfit to wear the uniform”. Latest data showed a total of 5,151 rogue cops had been dismissed from the service while 18,864 others were penalized or suspended for various offenses.
Eleazar continues to assure the public that abuses and wrongdoings by errant cops will not be tolerated and must avoid its repetition in the future.
At the rate he is initiating those “unprecedented innovations”, clear-cut transparency, leadership by example, hands on policy, his short but impact-driven stint as PNP chief come November 13, is will be almost impossible to follow.