CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) --The National Task Force Against COVID-19 is banking on the vaccination of employees in the industrial sector as the first step in helping the economy recuperate from the pandemic and its effects.

Around 600 workers from the Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) and other companies located at the  Laguna Technopark, Inc. received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines during the Ceremonial Vaccination for frontline personnel in essential sectors in the region last June 30, at the Ayala Malls Solenad in Santa Rosa City.

Joana Marie Mancita, Maricar Manjares and Rita Dimapasok of IMI, as well as Miguel Meneses and Gilbert Lora of LTI were among the first employees to get vaccinated.

Members of the National task Force Task Force Against COVID-19, led by Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Francisco R. Cruz, Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Department of Health Region IV-A Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, and Office of the Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque were also present to personally witness the inoculation.

“Ito ang whole of nation approach sa pag-address ng pandemyang ito, kung saan nakikita nyo na ang national government, local government unit at private sector ay magkakasama na tinutugunan ang problemang ito. Ito lang ang solusyon natin para maging mabilis nating mapagtagumpayan ang ating pakikibaka sa COVID-19,” said DILG Asec. Cruz, highlighting the role not only of the partnership between the government and private sectors, but also the cooperation of the people in the nation’s bid to end the pandemic.

[This is the whole of nation approach in addressing this pandemic, where we see the national government, local government units, and the private sector working together to solve this problem. This is our solution in overcoming our fight against COVID-19.]

She continues, “I hope you will not be swayed by fake news. “It is time that we start vaccinating our workforce that is vital to the economic recovery from the pandemic that is not only affecting our region, but also the whole world,” said Dr. Paz-Sydiongco of the government’s endeavour to inoculate the workforce against the coronavirus.

Instead, let us work together to be able to achieve herd immunity and celebrate Christmas with our families.”

Aside from Qualimed, the local chief executive also mentioned the possibility of utilizing Ayala Malls in their city as major vaccination sites once they have enough vaccines to be distributed for the constituents.

Ayala Holdings Inc. President and CEO, Paolo Borromeo, and Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas also attended the ceremony as part of the city’s support to the National Vaccination program.

“The city purchased vaccines as well. But we’re very thankful na nasisimulan natin ang pagbabakuna dahil sa national vaccination rollout,” Arcillas said.

[The city purchased vaccines as well. But we’re thankful that we were able to start vaccinating because of the national vaccination rollout.]

“We’ve been partners of the government since day one. We were one of the first to be a COVID referral hospital and put up RT-PCR laboratories. Our healthcare workers were one of the first to get vaccinated outside NCR. And we are delighted again to be one of the first industrial parks to be vaccinated outside of NCR,” Borromeo said of their participation in the government’s fight against COVID-19.

As one of the country’s main industrial hubs, Laguna Technopark houses around 241 locator companies that stretches between Santa Rosa and Biñan, providing employment for Filipinos inside and outside of the region.