FOLLOWING a drastic hit of COVID-19 against the country’s economy, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to lighten restrictions for individuals who have completed their jabs against COVID-19.
The MMC, a governing and policy-making body composed of 17 mayors across the National Capital Region (NCR), suggested that the IATF should examine both the economic and health statuses of the region to weigh down policies such as considering the ease of restrictions for fully-vaccinated individuals.
Enshrined in Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution No. 21-19, Series of 2021, is the unanimous request of the council which recognizes the fair share of adverse impact COVID-19 caused towards NCR’s economy.
The resolution stated that NCR mayors are concerned about the economic growth of the region as much as they do with the healthcare system put in a dire situation.
MMDA and MMC Chairman Benhur Abalos claimed that the call to lessen stringent public measures will pave the way in allowing affected industries to recover by conducting more economic activities.
“With the NCR being considered right now to be the epicenter of this pandemic and the region with the most number of vaccinated individuals, we are confident that we can find the right balance between safeguarding the public’s health and reviving the economy,” Abalos explained in a statement.
Asked what kind of ease the MMC is appealing for, Abalos clarified that it remains subject to intensive assessment by the task force to further scrutinize scientific and empirical evidence before arriving at a concrete policy—entrusting the final decision to IATF.
“The MMC Resolution reflects the collective sentiment and united call of the NCR Mayors for the IATF to study and consider the easing or relaxation of the COVID-19 guidelines for fully-vaccinated persons but objectively anchored on a study on the matter using scientific evidence as well as empirical data,” Abalos told reporters.
“In such a way, the policies in the NCR will be implemented based on accurate and impartial information thereby ensuring the just balance between the protection of public health and economic activity. The MMC leaves the details to the IATF which is lawfully-vested with the capacity and authority to make policies,” he added.
As of September 8, 56 percent of the eligible population or 5,492,344 individuals in NCR have been fully inoculated while 84.21 percent of the eligible population or 8,262,558 persons were administered with their first jab.
Since COVID-19 shots have a three to four-week interval once a person is vaccinated with the first dose, there is a delay to reach herd immunity.
According to Abalos, despite the crucial deferment of vaccination, NCR still eyes to hit 77.57 percent or 7,601,685 of the total eligible population in the region to be fully-vaccinated by October 8, 2021 as only then could they achieve population protection.
“And since the AstraZeneca vaccine has an interval of 12 weeks at most between the first dose and the second dose, we expect 87 percent of the eligible population in NCR to be vaccinated in 3 months’ time or not later than December 8,” the MMC chief added.