By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan / Philippine News Agency
To boost the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination nationwide, local government units (LGUs) will double their efforts in preparation for the three-day national inoculation program from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Eduardo Año said Sunday (Nov. 14) LGUs are now accommodating walk-in applicants, and that those under the A2 (senior citizens), A3 (adults with comorbidities), and A4 (essential frontline personnel) categories will be accepted.
He commended Metro Manila for its high vaccination rate and said other regions need to catch up.
“Ang problema na lang natin sana paano makaka-adjust ‘yung mga ibang LGUs outside of Metro Manila, kaya ‘yun ang aming nakatutok ngayon at sa pulong na ginanap with the governors and the mayors, nag-commit naman sila na dodoblehin nila ‘yung kanilang pagbabakuna at sisiguraduhin nila na tumaas ‘yung vaccination rate at makapag-prepare sa national vaccination days,” Año said in a radio interview.
The national government hopes to ramp up vaccination to 1.5 million jabs per day on the way to population protection by the end of the year.
During the three-day activity, the target is to inoculate at least five million individuals a day.
Año assured full preparations in coordination with uniformed personnel to avoid overcrowding, including additional vaccination sites, hiring more vaccinators, vehicles to pick up vaccinees, and prompt delivery of the vaccines.
He said local chief executives are conducting coordination meetings with DILG regional offices, Department of Health regional directors, the police, and other concerned parties.
“Day 1 will fall on a Monday, that is why we are recommending that this be declared a holiday to allow everybody to focus on the vaccination and those going to be vaccinated will have no work,’’ Año said.
Rewards, penalties
Año said localities with poor performance on their vaccination will initially be provided assistance but later probed if they continue to come up with lackluster results.
LGUs with satisfactory vaccination rates will be recognized.
There are also LGUs willing to provide assistance to adjacent neighboring localities that are having a difficult time in their vaccination drives, Año said. (PNA) – jlo
