An official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on the national government to include governors, mayors, and barangay chairs on the COVID-19 vaccination priority list.
DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said it is a step to encourage other people to get vaccinated against the disease.
“Kami dapat manguna diyan. Hopefully, itong Inter-Agency Task Force, kami gamitin sa pag-promote ng vaccine,” Diño said at a virtual press briefing this Sunday.
“May request na kami niyan kasi 42,000 na kapitan, icha-challenge ko kayo. ‘Pag nagpa-inject mga barangay captain, kagawad—domino principle, para ma-encourage, kami mag-umpisa,” the DILG official said.
Diño also agreed that those who work in the media should also be considered frontliners and be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Diño warned that officials who neglect health protocols can be prosecuted. He said the implementation of protocols must also be in accordance with the law.
“Bawal na bawal sinasaktan niyo ‘yong taong sinisita niyo, may protocol yan… hindi sila pwede manakit or manghiya or mang-abuso,” added Diño.
Government officials and experts have recently observed a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country.
On Saturday, the country recorded 5,000 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number of new cases recorded in a single day this year. The total number of cases is now 616,611.
DILG wants governors, mayors, barangay chairs included in vaccination priority list
- A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.
- A2: Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above
- A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories
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A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases as essential during an enhanced community quarantine
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A5: Indigent population not otherwise included in the preceding categories
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B1: Teachers, social workers
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B2: Other government workers
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B3: Other essential workers
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B4: Socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people
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B5: Overseas Filipino Workers
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B6: Other remaining workforce
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C: Rest of the Filipino population not otherwise included in the above groups