(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) lauded the local government units (LGUs) in rolling out coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines in their respective localities as the government continues to step up its house-to-house vaccination campaign.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said a total of 1,481,683 individuals were administered with the first, second, and booster doses against Covid-19 as LGUs' encouraged their constituents to get jabbed as well as increase vaccine confidence among the public.
Año commended Region 7 for inoculating 407,019 individuals with the LGUs hard pressed to intensify the house-to-house vaccination campaign to prevent another Covid-19 surge.
He noted that Regions 11 and 6 were able to inoculate 230,940 and 125,429 people, respectively.
“Ito ay patunay na epektibo at malaking tulong sa ating kababayan na nakatira sa liblib na lugar na maka-avail ng ating bakuna. Atin pong ipagpapatuloy ang house-to-house [vaccination campaign] para lalo pang maabot ang mga lugar na hindi pa nababakunahan (This is a testament that the campaign is effective and it is a big boost to our countrymen in far-flung areas to avail of the vaccine. We will continue with the house-to-house vaccination campaign to further reach other unvaccinated individuals),’’ Año said during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Talk to the People aired Tuesday morning.
“Ang atin depensa sa Covid surge ay ang tuloy-tuloy na pagbabakuna kasama ang pagbobooster at ang pagsunod sa minimum public health standard or protocols (Our defense against Covid surge is the relentless vaccination and booster shots, and adherence to the minimum public health standards or protocols),’’ the DILG chief said.
In the same briefing, Año noted the significant decrease in the number of violators with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other authorities strictly enforcing the minimum public health standard (MPHS) regulations.
Año pointed out that those not wearing face mask were down to 30,154 from 84,969, while the mass gathering infractions fell to 220 from the previous 724 incidents, and the number of physical distancing violators was down to 2,168 from the 9,057.
To ensure peace and order and avoid surge of Covid-19 cases as the May 9 poll approaches, Año said he has instructed each LGU to set up a medical health desk in each polling precinct that will focus on isolation polling places and make sure the barangay health emergency response teams (BHERTs) are operational.
“Dapat ay naka-standby ang mga BHERTs sakaling kailanganin ng Comelec (Commission on Elections) ng dagdag na manpower kapag hindi pa tapos, habang hindi pa tapos ang botohan. Kailangan ding makipag-ugnayan ang mga LGUs sa mga hospitals na malapit sa voting precincts para sa mabilis na koordinasyon sakaling kailanganin ang kanilang serbisyo para tugunan ang anumang medical emergencies at Covid-related admissions (The BHERTs should be on standby in case the Comelec needs additional manpower when voting is not yet done, while the polls are not yet over. LGUs also need to contact hospitals near the voting precincts for quick coordination in case their services are needed to address any medical emergencies and Covid-related admissions),” the DILG chief said. (PNA)
