PASAY CITY -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte urged Tuesday night all local government units (LGUs), police and military personnel to work side by side for the country’s three-day “Bayan, Bakunahan” vaccination program.
“I urge all national government agencies as well as provincial and local government units to use all available resources, especially human resources, to help in the vaccination efforts during these three days of vaccination,” President Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the People on COVID-19 program.
“I also call upon AFP, PNP and all enforcement agencies --- to assist in the vaccination and mobilization of resources to help bring our people to the vaccination sites,” he added.
The National Vaccination Days, dubbed as Bayan Bakunahan, is a three-day mass vaccination drive aimed at inoculating 15 million Filipinos across 16 regions outside of Metro Manila.
The nationwide immunization drive will be held on November 29 to December 1, which have been declared as special working days to gain wide public backing.
To prevent the people from going hungry during the Bayan Bakunahan, the Chief Executive said he would authorize all governors and mayors to shell out funds to ensure food is provided for all.
He also thanked the private sector, malls, fast food chains, and private hospitals for their commitment to the planned National Vaccination Days.
President Duterte made renewed calls to those who remain unvaccinated to take the jab, noting that refusing to do so would make them a “threat to public health”.
To protect public health, Duterte said individuals who refuse to be vaccinated should not be allowed inside public restaurants, resorts, and other establishments.
“Public health ‘yan kasi ang sabi ko ang dead end niyan is kamatayan. Dapat maintindihan ito ng mga kababayan natin: kailangan lahat ay magpabakuna,” he said.
The President also reminded everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated, to remain vigilant and advised them to continue following the minimum health protocols such as wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, and frequent handwashing.
The country has already received 134.4 million coronavirus vaccine doses through donations and procurements, and recorded 76.5 million administered doses.
Three million minors have also received the jab and third doses or booster shots have been administered to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
Following successful vaccination drives, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a continuous decline in the number of active coronavirus cases in the country, noting that cases decreased by 4,000 in the span of just three days. (PND)
