Bacolod City – The city can now be considered a “population protected” against COVID-19.
This was the message of Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the launch of “Resbakuna sa Botika” recently.
“We have already vaccinated 131 percent of our target population, and is still counting. In terms of our total population, our vaccination rate is over 91 percent. I understand that it is one of the highest in Western Visayas,” Leonardia said, citing data from the Emergency Operations Center–Task Force.
Leonardia’s statement was echoed by Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC-TF deputy for medical, data analysis and management.
The “Resbakuna” launching was attended by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson; Health Secretary Francisco Duque, III; Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr.; Deputy Chief Implementer Vivicencio Dizon and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Undersecretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales.
“When I first came here with Secretary Galvez, our biggest problem was testing. It was very difficult during that time, but now it is very different,” recalled Dizon, as he lauded the city’s resilience to inoculate its residents.
He also recognized the efforts of Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Jr., officer in charge of the City Health Office, and his team for their continuous effort despite the difficulties.
Galvez explained that with the help of the private sector, more COVID-19 projects from the national government will be expanded to other parts of the country to end the pandemic.
“Your help will be instrumental for us to save our people from COVID-19,” he said.
Duque thanked Western Visayas District Manager Ma. Agnes Navarro for making Mercury Drugstore as an “implementing unit of the private sector” to bring life-saving vaccines closer to the people.
“In your heart, you want others to feel your service especially now that you are part of our vaccination program,” Duque said
He also expressed his gratitude to Ayala Malls for their support in the government’s vaccination program all over the Philippines.
(News & photo courtesy of Bacolod City Public Information Office)