THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will help in scouting for temporary vaccine centers amid the monsoon season.
The offer came as President Rodrigo Duterte tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to think of ways on how to prevent people from waiting in line in the rain and in flooded areas to get their COVID-19 jab.
PNP Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar directed police offices and units to coordinate with local chief executives to determine the assistance they need in looking for safer inoculation sites.
“Nasa panahon tayo ng mga bagyo at iba pang kalamidad kaya inaasahan natin ang mga insidente ng pagbaha at landslides sa mga susunod na buwan kaya dapat lang na paghandaan natin ito bilang tugon sa kautusan ng ating Pangulong Duterte,” he added.
PGen. Eleazar earlier said that the PNP is ready to convert some police camps as vaccination sites.
He, however, shared one of his observations during his visit to the Taal evacuees in Batangas wherein COVID-19 vaccination was done right at the evacuation centers.
“Isa din sa mga hakbang na tinitingnan natin ay yung nakita ko sa Batangas nung ako ay bumisita sa mga Taal evacuees doon kung saan ang vaccination ay isinasagawa sa mga evacuation centers mismo. Ang ganitong istratehiya ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Batangas ay pinangunahan din naman ng ating Health Secretary Francisco Duque,” said PGen Eleazar.
The DILG has said it will discuss with the Metro Manila Council the identification of venues where the public could be safely inoculated.