Bacolodnons ‘protected’ against COVID-19: Bing

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Bacolodnons can now be considered “protected” against COVID-19, Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia said at the launching of the “Resbakuna sa Botika” at the Mercury Drug outlet at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in the city Feb. 3.

“We have already vaccinated 131 percent of our target population, and is still counting. In terms of our total population, our vaccination rate is over 91 percent. I understand that it is one of the highest in Western Visayas,” Leonardia said, citing data from the Emergency Operations Center–Task Force.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. (right) in a huddle with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Emergency Operations Center executive director Em Ang at the Resbakuna sa Botika launching Feb. 3. | Bacolod PIO photo

Leonardia’s statement was echoed by Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC-TF deputy for medical, data analysis and management.

The Resbakuna launching was attended by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon, and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas undersecretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales, among others.

“When I first came here with Secretary Galvez, our biggest problem was testing. It was very difficult during that time, but now it is very different,” recalled Dizon, as he lauded the city’s resilience to inoculate its residents, a press release from the city said Feb. 4.

He also recognized the efforts of Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr., officer in charge of the City Health Office, and his team for their continuous effort despite the difficulties.

Galvez explained that with the help of the private sector, more COVID-19 projects from the national government will be expanded to other parts of the country to end the pandemic.

“Your help will be instrumental for us to save our people from COVID-19,” he said.

Duque thanked Western Visayas district manager, Ma. Agnes Navarro, for making Mercury Drug an “implementing unit of the private sector” to bring life-saving vaccines closer to the people.

“In your heart, you want others to feel your service, especially now that you are part of our vaccination program,” Duque said.

He also expressed his gratitude to Ayala Malls for their support in the government’s vaccination program all over the Philippines. — NND