CEBU CITY, Cebu, Nov. 29 (PIA) -- As Cebu City officially kicked off the “Bayanihan Bakunahan National Covid-19 Vaccination Days” on Nov. 29, the city government has asked for the full participation of all 80 barangays in the city to help rally its residents to get the jab against COVID-19.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, in a press conference, reiterated how important it is for the barangays and its officials to perform its role of encouraging residents to go to the nearest vaccination sites and get inoculated.

Rama said the city government is taking part in the Bayanihan Bakunahan from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in coordination with the Regional Vaccination Operations Center (RVOC) in Central Visayas by setting up a total of 91 vaccination sites all over Cebu City.

He said the cooperation of both barangay officials and residents is crucial as the city hopes to reach or even exceed its target of administering 32,700 doses per day for more than 98,000 individuals during the said activity.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Health Department Officer in Charge Dr. Jeffrey Ibones said the mayor made the call as there are some barangays in Cebu City that have low vaccination outputs.

“Naa ta’y spot map atong gitan-aw kung unsa ang mga barangay nga gagmay kaayo ang output below 60% but naa say mga barangay nga niabot silag 80% pero dagko sila nga barangay (We have a spot map where it shows barangays that have outputs below 60% and other barangays that have already reached 80%),” said Ibones.

He added that most of the barangays with low vaccine turnout are located in mountain areas while there are some that are in the city which include barangays Kinsang-an, Suba, Duljo-Fatima, Cogon-Pardo, and Pamutan that hold a vaccination rate of below 40%.

The city government and the RVOC-7 are confident that the city can accomplish its target for the National Vaccination Days in boosting its vaccination status as to strengthen its ongoing fight against the pandemic.

Also present during the press conference were regional directors of different government agencies who are part of the RVOC, namely: Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez of the Department of Education 7, Regional Director Leocadio Trovela of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-7), Assistant Regional Director Guy Perez Department of Health (DOH-7), and Regional Head Fayette Riñen of the Philippine Information Agency 7 who is also also the head of the Communications Advocacy Partnership Cluster of RVOC-7.

The National Vaccination Days: “Bayanihan Bakunahan” 2021 is a massive vaccination drive that aims to inoculate nine million eligible Filipinos across the country within a three-day period.

This is to achieve the target of vaccinating a total of 54 million Filipinos. (RGC/PIA7)