CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said Tuesday, January 12, that the city is not falling behind in the preparation for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine rollout program.
"We are not behind, we are ready pero we are proceeding very carefully kay kapoy kaayo mapaso kita diha," Moreno said.
Moreno said in the vaccination program, it is important to make the correct decision at the right time as it is not a contest between cities.
"Dapat plastado ang programa sa bakuna kay lisod kaayo og magpataka ka lang," Moreno said.
"Ga-strategize naman ta, lisod man kaayo nga molihok ka na dayon kay tungod lang kay one city naglihok, another city naglihok as if nabiyaan ka na. Dili na ing-ana," he added.
Asked if the city has started negotiations with Covid-19 vaccine suppliers, the mayor said they are not yet prepared to sign a contract with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Inc. or any other vaccine suppliers.
Moreno also expressed concerns regarding the survey the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) conducted, saying that while there is nothing wrong with it, he and the city's health officials are wondering why it was not the Department of Health (DOH) that conducted the survey.
"Kay kini biyang matter having to do with bakuna ang expert ani ang DOH, labi na sa structural programming, DOH ang nakahibalo ana. They've been doing that ever since. Moingon ka'g bakuna, kabisado na kay na nila," Moreno said.
"Naa ko'y mga questions niina pero okay lang, we can work this out. But ang importante, sa ato nga side, we are taking the correct steps at the right time," he added.