BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday the province would tap the assistance of the city and municipal mayors in encouraging Negrenses to avail of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) booster shots.
“I will course this now through the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) president, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, to encourage their members to really push for the booster shots,” he told reporters.
Lacson said the province would always cooperate with the programs of the Department of Health (DOH), including the campaign for Covid-19 booster shots.
“But obviously, it needs the cooperation of all local government units,” he added.
During the induction of the Negros ACE officers at the Provincial Capitol on Wednesday, Benitez acknowledged the importance to push for booster shots among the Negrenses.
He also reaffirmed Lacson’s idea of the necessity of unified local governments, especially during events, such as the pandemic.
“The best mentors for us are our fellow mayors. Let’s help each other because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who did it first, but what most of us have. Let us not allow ourselves on divisive leadership,” he added.
As of the middle of July, Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated about 1.38 million of its residents against Covid-19, data from the Provincial Health Office showed.
This represents 66.04 percent of the target 2.09 million vaccinees, or 80 percent of the province’s 2.62 million population, set by the DOH.
On Thursday, the province still has 78 active Covid-19 cases, based on the records of the Provincial Incident Management Team. (PNA)
