QUEZON CITY -- In support of the Bayanihan Bakunahan National Vaccination Days, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will mobilize members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to ensure sufficient manpower during the simultaneous vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
“Sisiguraduhin po ng DILG na ang logistical needs ng ating pagbabakuna ay ating makakamit. Alam po natin na kailangan natin ng maraming data encoders and on the part of the DILG, we will mobilize the Sangguniang Kabataan nationwide,” said DILG Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya.
He said that the youth sector led by the SK has expressed their willingness to extend manpower support to the three-day vaccination drive to ensure the smooth conduct of the activity. He said the DILG is closely coordinating with the National Youth Commission and the SK Federation on this matter.
“Tunay ngang ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan kaya natutuwa kami na handang tumulong at maging bahagi ang SK sa Bayanihan Bakunahan,” he said.
According to Malaya, the Department will also mobilize the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain peace and order in the vaccination sites, while medical teams from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the PNP will also be asked to help in the conduct of vaccination.
On the other hand, he said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will also help ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of vaccination in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) areas.
Malaya also said that the Department will release a Memorandum Circular to all local government units (LGUs) to ensure sufficient manpower in vaccination sites so that LGUs can meet their daily targets.
“Buong puwersa po ng DILG pati ang ating mga local government units ay nakatutok at susuporta sa Bayanihan Bakunahan. The government aims to vaccinate 15-million Filipinos in the three-day activity in order to reach our goal of population protection the soonest possible time,” he said.
He said that with the huge supply of vaccines in the country, the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation should come together and help achieve population protection and finally see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The end of this health crisis now lies in our hands. Let us become heroes for our families and our communities by coming forward to get jabbed,” he said.
Tapping other agencies
Aside from the SK and the DILG’s attached agencies, Malaya said that the Department of Education (DepEd) will also deploy teachers to be encoders during the Bayanihan Bakunahan vaccination drive.
“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa DepEd dahil ang mga eskwelahan po ay gagamitin din natin na vaccination sites para dito sa malaki nating programa,” he said.
In addition, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will provide additional encoders for the vaccination drive through the Government Internship Program (GIP).
To entice more people to get vaccinated during the three-day vaccination program, Malaya said that the DILG will also conduct social mobilization activities such as townhall meetings in barangays to dispel vaccine hesitancy and vaccine preference.
“Inaanyayahan po natin ang bawat Pilipino na maging bayani at makiisa dito sa programang ito. Para po sa mga hindi pa nababakunahan, magparehistro na po tayo sa pinakamalapit na LGU sa inyong lugar,” said Malaya.
“Sa mga bakunado na po, mag volunteer po tayo sa ating mga LGU dahil nangangailangan po tayo ng mga vaccinators. Nangangailangan din po tayo ng mga data encoders at kung ano-ano pa,” he added. (DILG)
