The Department of Health (DOH) sought to assure the public that vaccine supplies would not be affected by power outages.
The DOH said that the National Vaccination Operations Center (VOC) has issued guidance and instructions to its Regional VOCs, Local VOCs, implementing units, and vaccination sites “to ensure that contingency plans are in place.”
The DOH added that “simulation activities have been conducted, and that backup power sources are available.”
“They are also mandated to closely monitor and report the temperature of their cold storage,” the DOH said.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Jejomar Binay said he is hoping that the DOH
has prepared for the brownouts despite the earlier assurance from the Department of Energy of a brownout-free vaccination rollout.
“They should always be prepared for emergencies. Sayang ang mga bakuna kung masisira dahil sa brownouts na pwede namang paghandaan [There should be careful planning so that vaccine waste can be avoided],” Binay said.
Binay lambasted the concerned agencies who “chose to paint a rosy picture of our power supply situation instead of planning for a worst case scenario, which is now happening.”
“The rotating brownouts are not only inconvenient for those of us who are forced by the lockdown to stay at home. Many employees work from home and their productivity will be affected. It will also impact on small businesses who are already struggling to survive,” he added.
The failure to anticipate and prepare for brownouts, he stressed, is “infuriating, but not surprising.”
“Sa simula pa lang ng pandemya, reactive at hindi pro-active ang ibang government agencies. At parang wala tayo sa crisis situation kung gumalaw. Magtataka pa ba tayo na nangyayari ito? [During the start of the pandemic, some government agencies are reactivate and not pro-active. They are acting as if we are not in crisis. Should we be surprised that this is happening now]? he asked.
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