By Daniel Manalastas
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave the assurance that he will personally push to adjust the category of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to a higher priority list in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
Duque vowed at the hearing of the House committee on overseas workers affairs that he will recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to upgrade the category of OFWs from B5 to A4 category.
If the IATF approves the proposal, OFWs will be prioritized ahead of teachers and social workers, who are under B1 category, and other government workers who fall under B2 category. Other remaining workforces fall under B6 category.
“Ako po mismo ang mangangatawan sa Inter-Agency Task Force na i-angat po ang estado dito po sa ating prioritization framework mula po sa B5, ay itaas po sa A4.“ Duque said. [I myself will represent to the IATF to raise the category here in our prioritization framework from B5 to A4.]
Duque also assured the committee that OFWs employed as healthcare workers will be included in the A1 priority list, while OFWs who are senior citizens will be considered A2 priority.
Duque said he will bring this up at the IATF meeting on Monday.
“By Monday, I think we will be able to do this sa meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force. Bago pa ‘yun, kakausapin ko po ang iba pang kalihim na ito po ay suportahan at makakapagbigay po kami ng kasagutan siguro baka mga Martes.”
