DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 18 (PIA) -- The City Government of Dumaguete has secured 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the vaccination of workers in tourism-related industries in the city and the province. 

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo announced this in a press conference held at the City Session Hall on Oct. 15.

He said this was made through the commitment of Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Remollo said he wrote a letter to Puyat two months ago requesting for a vaccine allocation solely for tourism workers which is also a priority of the department.

He then received a text message from the secretary on Oct. 14 confirming there is already a vaccine allocation for tourism-industry workers here which is lodged under the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7.

“Gi-confirm sa DOH na (naay) 50, 000 doses good for 25,000 people or persons (na) naka-stock na sa Cebu.  Kuhaon na lang nato (DOH already confirmed that there are 50,000 doses which are stored in Cebu. We just have to pick it up. This is good for 25,000 people),” Remollo said.

Aside from employees of restaurants, hotels, and resorts, workers in the transport sector and sidewalk vendors are also targeted to be covered by the vaccine allocation since they are somehow involved in tourism.

Remollo added that this endeavor will not only benefit those who are actual residents of the city but residents of other cities and municipalities working in the city.

“Apil na tanan empleyado sa restaurants, resort, (and) boutique hotels na whether or not they are from Dumaguete. Matabangan na pod nato ang whole Negros ani kay dili man tanan empleyado sa mga resort ug hotel taga atoa (This will include all employees of restaurants, resorts, and boutique hotels whether they are from Dumaguete or not. We can also help the entire Negros Oriental through this because not all employees are residents of the city),” Remollo said.

Remollo also disclosed that the city government has rolled out around 73,000 to 74,000 doses of vaccine and more than half of it were given as second dose. 

He is optimistic that if the city government will sustain this, it is possible that the city can attain herd immunity by December. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)