By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
Malacañang reminded employers to not mark their employees absent on their scheduled vaccination day in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 14), in connection with the ongoing national vaccination drive of the government that aims to reach at least 54 million fully inoculated Filipinos by the end of 2022.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing that the government is aiming to vaccinate 7 million Filipinos in the upcoming phase 2 of the Bayanihan Bakunahan national vaccination program.
He reminded employers to let their employees get their jab, whether or not it is on Bayanihan Bakunahan days because it is included in the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID).
“Panawagan din naman po namin sa ating mga employers, whether it is not Bayanihan Bakunahan national vaccination days, ang inyo pong mga empleyado ay hayaan nating magpabakuna,” Nograles said.
“Huwag natin i-mark as absent dahil kasama po iyan sa ating resolution and guidelines ng IATF,” he added.
Nograles also encouraged the employers to support their employees in joining the government’s national vaccination drive.
“I-encourage po natin ang ating mga empleyado na magpabakuna lahat and get fully vaccinated kung kinakailangan,” he said.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Proclamation No. 1253 or the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” on November 24 that declared November 29-December 1 as national vaccination days. The vaccination program extended for another two days and administered at least 10 million doses of vaccines to Filipinos nationwide.
The proclamation states that employees who will be vaccinated during the program shall not be considered absent from their work, provided that they present proof of vaccination to their respective employers. In compliance with the proclamation, this provision was included in the IATF-EID Resolution No. 148-B.
“Upon sufficient proof of a confirmed vaccination schedule, all workers to be vaccinated during work hours shall not be considered as absent during that period.” the provision read.
The government expressed their confidence in reaching their goal of 54 million fully inoculated Filipinos by the end of the year with the help and cooperation of the public in joining the national vaccination drive.
“Yes, [we are] confident po. We are confident, not only in our LGUs, but also sa ating mga kababayan dahil lahat naman po tayo ay kailangang magtulungan para maabot natin itong 54 million na target nating fully vaccinated [na mga tao] by the end of 2021,” Nograles said.
The round two of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan vaccination drive is scheduled on Dec. 15-17 and aims to inoculate 7 million Filipinos. -rir
