IN RECOGNITION OF OFWs' SACRIFICES. The provincial government of Pampanga has rolled out a Covid-19 vaccination drive for Kapampangan overseas workers bound to depart the country. Angelina Blanco, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said on Tuesday (July 20, 2021) the move is in recognition of the sacrifices of the OFWs in working abroad and their vital contribution to the economy. (Photo by Pampanga PIO)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The provincial government has rolled out a vaccination drive against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for Kapampangan overseas workers bound to depart the country.
Angelina Blanco, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said on Tuesday the move is in recognition of the sacrifices of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their vital contribution to the economy.
“Ang atin pong ni-roll out ay for OFWs (What we rolled out is for OFWs). Those certified OFWs. We checked if may contract na sila sa kanilang employer and passport nila. Isa sila sa mga nagko-contribute ng income sa bansa natin and of course, kailangan natin ang mga OFWs to uplift the living condition of our people (We checked if they have a contract with their employers and their passports. They are one of those who contribute to the income of the country and of course, we need the OFWs to uplift the living condition of our people),” Blanco said in an official social media account post.
Sheryn Manabat, a native of Floridablanca town, one of the OFWs who flocked early to the vaccination site which started Monday, is thankful to the provincial government as she was given the second shot of the vaccine.
Manabat said she got her shot in Winnipeg, Canada before returning to the country to seek medical treatment.
Manabat said she was required to get the second shot in the country before returning to Canada.
“Sobrang mahalaga kasi pag hindi ako nag-second dose magbabayad ako ng 2,000 to 3,000 Canadian dollars (It is very important because if I was unable to get my second shot here, I would pay 2,000 to 3,000 Canadian dollars),” she said.
Like Manabat, Alvin Santos also needs to get his second jab before going back to Singapore.
“I was supposed to go back to Singapore the second week of June. However, our travel was deferred. We were advised to have our vaccination in our home country for us to go back to Singapore,” Santos said.
He likewise thanked the provincial government because aside from free vaccination, he is one of the beneficiaries of the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga” program.
“We are grateful for this vaccination not only for myself but for my family as well,” Santos said.
As of July 18, a total of 5,183 Kapampangans have so far benefited from the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga” program since it was launched by the provincial government on June 30, 2020.
The program fast-tracks the processing of repatriated Kapampangan overseas Filipino workers, including non-working individuals, to their families after months of being stranded across the globe. (PNA)
