MANILA CITY -- Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo today, August 15, encouraged everyone in the Judiciary to avail of the government’s free vaccination for themselves and their families in the continued fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking during the launch of the PinasLakas Vaccination Drive at the Supreme Court courtyard in Manila following today's flag-raising rites, Chief Justice Gesmundo expressed his gratitude to the Department of Health (DOH) and to the City Government of Manila for their tireless support for the Judiciary’s drive to vaccinate its employees and their families.

“With the help once again of the national and local governments, we
have extended our vaccination and booster drives to not just our
employees alone, but to their families and household members as well.
Truly, our continuing coordination and cooperation with these two entities
have proved vital to the fulfilment of our duties in this time of crisis,” said
the Chief Justice. He added: “To be sure, more than ever, we need a sense of oneness, a sense of nationhood, a sense of common good, for in the difficulties that lie ahead, we know that we cannot triumph individually. We can only
prevail as a whole, as one nation dedicated towards a common goal, the
public welfare.”

Dr. Maria Rosario Singh Vergeire, DOH Officer-in-Charge, also
returned the gratitude as she thanked the Judiciary “for joining the call to expand vaccination coverage through participation in the PinasLakas.” PinasLakas, which was launched nationwide on July 26, 2022, is the stronger nationwide booster vaccination campaign of the present administration in its first 100 days. 

Dr. Vergeire said that the Philippine government is “bringing vaccine closer to the people” through the simultaneous launch of its vaccination drive with DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs) in the country's regional centers. In coordination with local government units (LGUs), launch sites include schools, malls, markets, plazas, workplace, and places of worship where people can walk in to get their COVID-19 booster shots.

Likewise, Dr. Vergeire shared that 96 percent of the Supreme Court employees are already fully vaccinated, or have received the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series, 92 percent have had their first booster shots, and 51.2 percent have already received their second booster shots. “Congratulations at maraming maraming salamat dahil ang Supreme Court ay dininig ang panawagan ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ng national government that we become models among all of our employees and offices to show that vaccines work and are safe...and they are effective and being provided free by the government,” said the DOH OIC.

For her part, Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan reaffirmed the local government’s support to the national government to vaccinate as many citizens as possible. She said that the Manila City’s free vaccination is not only limited to its residents but, with its “open-policy,” is also offered to all citizens in the six hospitals being run by the Manila local government. Also joining the launch of the PinasLakas were Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh. Judicial Integrity Board Vice Chairperson (Ret.) Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, DOH OIC Undersecretary Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor F. Santiago, and several Court officials
were also in attendance. (Supreme Court/DOH)