MANILA -- The local government of Malapatan in Sarangani Province expressed support for the national government’s “Bayanihan Bakunahan”, the national vaccination drive starting on November 29 to December 1, 2021.

Malapatan Mayor Salway "Jun" D. Sumbo Jr. shared on Monday, November 22, during the Network Briefing News hosted by Presidential Communications Asec. JV Arcena that his municipality is coordinating with the provincial government about the upcoming biggest vaccination campaign of the government that aims to inoculate 15 million Filipinos across 16 regions outside Metro Manila.

“Iyong panawagan natin dito sa [bayan] ng Malapatan iyong vaccination program natin, kailangan tulungan natin ang gobyerno at patuloy tayong magdasal na magagawa natin ito. [Our call here in [the town] is to achieve our vaccination program, we must help the government and we must continue to pray that we really can.],” he said.

The local government wants to speed up its vaccination rate which is only at 10% due to difficulty in mobilizing COVID-19 vaccines in highlands and far-flung areas, according to Mayor Sumbo.

But the municipality maintains its zero COVID-19 cases after imposing stricter quarantine restrictions and measures, most especially in upland barangays.

In a span of one week, the Municipal Health Office has vaccinated 541 students aged 12-17 years old.

Nationwide ‘Bayanihan Bakunahan’

“Kailangan namin ang kooperasyon ng bawat Malapateños. Hindi namin ito kaya kung wala po ang tulong ng [bawat] mamamayan. [We need the cooperation of every Malapateños. We would not be able to do this without the help of [every] citizen.],” he added.

The 60% of the population of Malapatan, Sarangani is generally composed of indigenous mountain tribes such as B'laan, Tagakaolo, Tboli, Manobo, Ubo, and Kalagan who have been residing in the mountains for generations, the provincial government said.

Acting Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced today that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered all government agencies and LGUs to fully support the 3-day national vaccination drive coinciding with Bonifacio Day on November 30.

At present, nearly 33 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 based on the recent data from the National Task Force Against COVID-19. The government is aiming to achieve the 50 million-mark of fully vaccinated individuals before the end of the year.

“The “Bayanihan Bakunahan” project seeks to significantly add to this figure, as we have all seen evidence of how increased vaccination rates have contributed to the reduction of active COVID-19 cases and the drop in daily new COVID-19 cases,” Sec. Nograles said. (PCOO)