The city government of Borongan in Eastern Samar is eyeing to buy 90,000 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine, its mayor announced on Monday.

In a press briefing, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said the city plans to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine, hoping to be included in the second batch of procurement.

“Buying of the vaccines will be coursed through the provincial government because we are a component city and not a highly-urbanized or an independent city,” Agda said.

He added they are informed the national government will take care of the transportation and storage of the vaccines during a meeting of mayors with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

The city government earlier announced it was initially allocating PHP35 million for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.

Agda is negotiating to secure at least 90,000 doses which would be enough to cover 45,000 Borongan residents, as the vaccine requires two shots per person.

Priorities are senior citizens, front-liners, city hall employees, and others in the so-called vulnerable sector. However, not all elderly will be included in the vaccination program, he said.

Since the pandemic, the city has already recorded 119 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

The local government has no records available on the number of deaths and recoveries.

Borongan, the capital of Eastern Samar province, has a population of 70,000 as of 2015. (PNA)