BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz revealed yesterday they were hoping that the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will approve the proposal of both the provincial government and Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas to implement pandemic alert levels per local government units (LGUs) instead of per province.
According to Diaz, some LGUs were performing well in their pandemic responses (including vaccination), thereby lowering their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed the city of La Carlota and the town of Pulupandan have already exceeded the target 80 percent full vaccination rate of their general population.
Cadiz City is also close to reaching the target mark, alongside the towns of San Enrique and EB Magalona.
Overall, however, as of March 26, the province had only fully-vaccinated 65.02 percent of the target population.
“We want them (LGUs) also to enjoy the effects of their hard work, especially that 70 to 80 percent of their population are already vaccinated,” Diaz said.
Diaz also said LGU-based alert level classifications will further encourage LGUs to strive improving their COVID-19 vaccination program.
Negros Occidental will likely retain its Alert Level 2 status. It has yet to reach the required 70 percent fully-vaccinated general population and 80 percent senior citizen coverage./PN
