The local government of Taytay announced that it poured in an additional P300-million budget for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that each and every local folk will be inoculated.
In an announcement made shortly after a meeting with members of the local council, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula said that from the initial P20 million allocation approved by the Taytay Sangguniang Bayan in October last year, the municipal government raised it to P300-million. This is deemed to be more than enough to ensure the vaccination of the entire population of Taytay.
Web-sourced figures showed Taytay with a population of 320,000 residents, as per 2015 census.
“Noong Oktubre 2020 pa lang ay nagpalagay na tayo ng initial na 20 million peso fund para sa pagdating ng bakuna kontra COVID-19. At malugod kong ibinabalita sa aming mga kababayan na lahat ng Taytayeño ay titiyakin naming mababakunahan,” Gacula said after his meeting with Taytay Vice-Mayor Mitch Bermundo and municipal councilors.
Gacula said that they have been anticipating as early as 3rd week of December the issuance of an executive order that would give them the clearance to tap even the internal revenue allotment as augmentation to what the Taytay LGU has already allocated for vaccine procurement.
“Sa puntong ito, lubos akong naniniwalang ang lahat ng aming residente dito sa Taytay ay mababakunahan nang libre kontra COVID-19,” Gacula added.
Moreover, Gacula likewise cited the LGU’s department heads and personnel who have been working round-the-clock in the formulation of a vaccination program and prioritization plan that would effectively address other concerns. The local chief executive said that they are seriously considering an approach that will no longer require residents to leave their places.
Gacula further noted that their local government has been maintaining a database of residents, addresses and even the contact details – “We have been regularly updating this database, which made the tedious process of identifying and reaching out local folks easier,” the mayor added.
Even before President Rodrigo Duterte asked local government units to roll-out counterpart funds to defray the cost of procuring COVID-19 vaccines, Taytay LGU has already set aside and earmarked resources that will be used in securing vaccines for the marginalized sector in their locality.