ILOILO – Only 28 local chief executives (LCEs) in Western Visayas have been included in the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination adjusted priority list.
These included all governors in the region, one mayor from a highly urbanized city and 21 mayors from towns and cities deemed by the Department of Health (DOH) as “critical and high risk” areas.
Vaccination should include all LCEs in Western Visayas, asserted Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City. The city was not included in the list.
The prioritization adjustment was based on the latest advisory of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
Pursuant to the key agreements during the 108th meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, LCEs of critical and high-risk provinces, cities and municipalities may be vaccinated as part of Priority Group A1.5, “taking into consideration the role of LCEs in the COVID-19 pandemic response and the limited vaccine supply.”
“We will request for the vaccination of all LCEs and members of the local IATF in Region 6,” Treñas stressed. “Mapadala ko letter (to that national taskforce) in behalf of the LCEs of Region 6.”
In Capiz, two mayors were included – MacArthur Valdemar of Jamindan and Tito Mayo of Cuartero.
Frolibar Bautista (acting mayor) of Malay and Mayor James Solanoy of Nabas were selected from Aklan.
Six mayors from Negros Occidental were included. They were Alejandro Mirasol of Binalbagan, Maria Gina Lizares of Sipalay City, Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Neil Lizares of Talisay City, and Victor Gerardo Rojas of Murcia.
Four mayors were from Antique – Gian Carlo Occeña of Sibalom, Maxfil Policar of Anini-y, Elmer Untaran of San Jose, and Margarito Mission Jr. of San Remigio.
Mayor Annabelle Samaniego of Sibunag, Guimaras was also included.
In Iloilo province, six mayors were listed – Rema Somo of Santa Barbara, Oscar Garin Sr. of Guimbal, Elvira Alarcon of Batad, Ma. Lina Holipas of Leon, Mark Palabrica of Bingawan, and Francisco Calvo of Calinog.
Based on the current assessment of the DOH, LCEs of 57 provinces, 25 highly urbanized/independent component cities, and 321 component cities/municipalities totaling to 403 are qualified to be vaccinated as part of Priority Group A1.5.
“If a locality becomes high or critical risk as determined by the DOH, the LCE of the locality shall be qualified for inoculation with COVID-19 vaccines,” read part of the advisory.
According to the DOH, LCEs aged 59 years and younger will be inoculated with the China-made CoronaVac vaccine of Sinopharm Biotech. The same goes with LCEs with co-morbidities.
For elderly LCEs, meanwhile, AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered.
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. was in favor of this development.
“Not that I want to be vaccinated first ha… but maayo na nga at least may nadala sang sa wala,” Defensor said.
He added that vaccination is important “kay ang LCE hindi pwedeng matakot… hindi pwedeng mapagod.”
The governor also cited himself as example.
He said: “Ti bisan ako, importante sa tanan, indi puede nga mahawa kay mauntat akon ubra. I cannot stop. Imagine if you stop for one month, ‘ti bayaan mo di?”
“That’s the big reason why we should be vaccinated,” Defensor added./PN
