MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday began the vaccination against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) of its personnel who are senior citizens and with comorbidities.

MMDA chairperson Benhur Abalos said around 200 employees belonging to the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (with comorbidities) priority groups were administered with Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac vaccine at the agency’s headquarters in Makati City.

Around 80 medical personnel of the MMDA were already vaccinated against COVID-19 on Monday.

Abalos said the MMDA has a high infection rate among its personnel because they are among the frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.

“Kaya, humingi kami ng tulong sa DOH (Department of Health) para mabakunahan ang ating mga frontliners, lalong lalo na ang aming traffic enforcers, ang mga nasa field,” he said.

The agency is targeting to fully inoculate all its 8,000 employees.

Abalos himself received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. His initial dose was given last March 1.

The MMDA has so far recorded a total of 771 COVID-19 infections with 100 active ones. About eight personnel succumbed to the disease. – RRD (with details from Correspondent JP Nuñez)

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday (April 8) announced it will conduct a road reblocking along EDSA beginning Friday (April 9).

The DPWH advised motorists to avoid areas along EDSA Muñoz, in front of East West Bank & Floor Center, Shell, Goodyear, Shell Select & Skymart and take alternative routes.

The road re-blocking will begin on April 9 at 11:00 p.m. until April 12. All affected roads will be passable at 5:00 a.m. on Monday.

MANILA, Philippines—Truck ban in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is temporarily suspended, according to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In a Twitter post, the agency announced that truck ban is suspended along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. This is to ensure the deliveries of essential goods in areas under ECQ will be unhampered.

The MMDA, however, clarified that total truck ban is still implemented along EDSA.

ADVISORY: MMDA’s enforcement of truck ban is suspended along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to ensure unhampered movement of essential goods during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).#mmda #mmdaatyourservice pic.twitter.com/ZneiGHHcpo

— Official MMDA (@MMDA) March 30, 2021

The ECQ will last until April 4 in NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal. AAC