ILOILO City – Health secretary Francisco Duque said Iloilo City was chosen as one of the expansion areas for the “Resbakuna sa Botika” campaign because of its successful vaccination program against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Duque was here yesterday to launch the expanded “Resbakuna sa Botika”, a pharmacy-based vaccination scheme.
According to Duque, Iloilo City was able to vaccinate more than 100 percent of its target population.
“Pati ‘yong hindi taga-Iloilo City natuturukan, kaya nga ang kanilang performance rating nasa 136% of the target population,” he said.
The “Resbakuna sa Botika” launching here was held at Mercury Drug Store at Festive Mall, Iloilo Business Park. Duque was with other executives of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 such as testing czar Secretary Vivencio Dizon and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
Duque also lauded Mayor Jerry Treñas for his leadership, calling the city’s chief executive an “epitome of persistence”.
In 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor urged Duque to step down for “not making correct decisions”.
“I think it is time for him to accept responsibility and voluntarily resign for the sake of the country,” Treñas had said.
That time, there was a dearth in COVID-19 testing kits. Facemasks and alcohol were running out. COVID-19 cases were rising. Hospitals were full of patients./PN
