The Iloilo City government has advanced a 20 percent payment for the 600,000 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine it ordered from pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said this confirms the order of Iloilo City to immunize 300,000 persons to protect them from the viral illness.

“The remaining payment pag na-deliver na (angvaccines). Ang una ni is just to make sure a firm commitment,” Treñas said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier issued a memorandum granting local government units (LGUs) the authority to make advance payments for COVID-19 vaccines.

In Iloilo City, the vaccination will be free for all residents and non-residents working in the city, stressed the mayor.

The city government is coordinating with other pharmaceutical companies to procure additional doses, Treñas revealed.

“Being the economic center in the region where most transactions are conducted in the city, we must ensure that everyone here is protected from the virus and avoid transmission,” Treñas said./WDJ