NOAH at SRP now a vaccination site

CEBU, Philippines —  The NOAH (New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home) Complex at the South Road Properties in Cebu City transitions officially to a vaccination site from a quarantine facility with its formal blessing and inauguration yesterday.

The event was attended by city officials headed by Acting Mayor Michael Rama, Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, City Health officer-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones, and NOAH manager Jocelyn Pesquera, among others.

Also present were former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Rama said vaccination in the site will officially start once the city receives additional COVID-19 vaccines by next week.

After accommodating more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients as an isolation facility, NOAH is aiming to accommodate at least 2,000 vaccinees per day once it officially operates.

“Our target is two to three thousand a day,” said City Health officer-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones.

“We don’t have the vaccine yet. If DOH (Department of Health) will give us more vaccines, asap makagamit ra mi dinhi,” he added.

As of yesterday, Ibones said, the city was expecting to receive additional 21,000 doses of Pfizer which will be used in a new vaccination site.

Roque, who was also present at the opening of NOAH Complex last year, said it was a privilege to be back at the facility which he described as one of the biggest isolation centers outside of Metro Manila.

He said the fact that this is no longer used as an isolation center but already a vaccination center is “good news.”

Roque said the task now for vaccine czar Carlito Galvez is “to keep NOAH very busy.”

Marcos, for his part, said initiatives like this is very important in the fight against COVID-19, especially in achieving herd immunity.

He said the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the solutions in solving this ongoing public health crisis. — JMD (FREEMAN)