PCOO EYES TO ATTAIN POPULATION PROTECTION THIS YEAR; 85% OF EMPLOYEES NOW FULLY VACCINATED VS COVID-19

The Presidential Communications Operations Office is looking at achieving population protection by year-end, after marking a major breakthrough with the vaccination of 85% of total PCOO personnel and its attached agencies nationwide.

PCOO Sec. Martin A. Andanar emphasized that the “PCOO has made it a departmental goal to inoculate and vaccinate all of its government personnel and their families.”

In June 2021, the PCOO management started the vaccination drive of the general population of the agency together with their dependents with the valuable assistance of the National Vaccine Operations Center and the local government units of the City of Manila and Quezon City, and as well as local government units for the regional offices of PCOO units and agencies nationwide.

“This is to ensure the unhampered delivery of information, communications, and government services to the Filipino public,” Sec. Andanar added. He also thanked PCOO Legal Affairs ASec. Omar Romero, PCOO Group

vaccination coordinator, Admin, and Finance USec. Kris Ablan and the heads of the PCOO attached agencies for making the PCOO Group’s vaccination drive possible and successful.

According to Asec. Romero, “around 3,364 agency personnel and its attached agencies nationwide have been fully vaccinated as of September 27, 2021.”

The figure translates to 84.93% of its 3,961 total workforces. Data showed that there are still 343 personnel that have yet to receive their second dose, while 69 persons voluntarily opted not to be inoculated.

ASec. Romero emphasized that the vaccination is “to ensure the safety and health of all PCOO employees pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards for the Public Sector per Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2020 issued by the Civil Service Commission on March 4, 2020.” In PCOO proper, 433 employees (93.12%) are now fully vaccinated while 15 personnel are waiting to resume the inoculation this coming month.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Communications Services is the first PCOO unit to reach population protection this quarter as all of its 119 personnel are now fully vaccinated against the virus.

The Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang surpassed a high vaccination rate of 98.08% (154 out of 156 personnel). The remaining two are now waiting to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Central offices of the two government media corporations, People’s Television Network, Inc. and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, also recorded above the 90-percent mark of their fully vaccinated personnel, reaching 92.13% and 94.81%, respectively. agencies like the Philippine Information Agency, News and Information Bureau, APO Production Unit, Inc., and the National Printing Office also recorded a high vaccination rate of 88% to 90%.

Aside from PCOO personnel and dependents, some members of the Malacañang Press Corps were included in the vaccination drive.

“We have also included in our vaccination campaign the journalists and news and media professionals in the Malacañang Press Corps,” Andanar said.

“This drive to inoculate and vaccinate our government personnel, their families, and the members of the MPC is part of our whole-ofnation approach in the Duterte administration, knowing how important it is for COVID-19 vaccines to be made accessible for us to succeed in our road to recovery as one nation and to contribute to the global effort in fighting the pandemic,” the PCOO chief emphasized.

Secretary Andanar: FOI is one of the best solutions vs. corruption

The implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is one of the best solutions to combat corruption in public offices and should also be applied to other branches of government, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday.

The PCOO continues to push for the legislation of the Freedom of Information through pending bills filed in the legislative body. Secretary Andanar stressed that this will address corruption and inefficient public service delivery.

“Our campaign against corruption will end right away, because for example this Freedom of Information is not yet a law. It is not being passed by the Congress yet,” he said in an interview.

“Whether the next administration will continue to promote this or not, us under the Duterte administration believe that this is one of the greatest solutions to get rid of corruption,” he added. Caraga INFOCUS On 23 July 2016, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 (EO 2) or the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program, which opened the books of the offices under the executive branch. disclose information about their transactions that involve public interest.

It is remembered that the PCOO requested the inclusion of FOI as part of the President’s legislative agenda for the year 2020. The said landmark policy mandates the PCOO as designated lead government agency to operationalize said EO 2. It aims to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation by requiring government agencies to In terms of the anticorruption drive of the government, such a policy is being complemented by the Presidential Anti-

Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Republic

Act 11032 or the Ease of

Doing Business Act.

Secretary Andanar highlighted how the R.A. 11032 has strengthened the anti-red tape campaign in government transactions, advancing the Philippines to the 95th spot from 124th place in 2019 out of 190 economies in the World Bank’s “Doing

Business 2020” report. September 25-October 1, 2021 | 43

Trinidad, Bohol LGU to complete gov’t-funded new health unit this year

The municipality of Trinidad in Bohol Province recognizes the help of the national government through the Department of Health in the construction of its new rural health unit that will be vital in the ongoing fight against the pandemic.

In an interview with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar on September 27, via Network Briefing News, Trinidad town Mayor Judith Del Rosario Cajes shared the COVID-19 response of the local government.

“Ang bagong rural health unit natin na sinimulan noong 2019 patuloy po ang konstruksyon nito. Ito ay tulong mula sa national government sa pamamahala ni President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. [The construction of our new rural health unit started in 2019 and is still under construction at present. This was possible through the assistance from the national government under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.],” she said.

The national government funded the construction of the rural health unit amounting to Php 2 million and ordered the deployment of additional DOH medical staff for the town.

“Susubukan po natin na tapusin ang construction by the end of the year. [We will try our best to finish the construction by the end of the year.],” Mayor Cajes added. health department assigned a medical doctor who will head the health unit and deployed eight nurses to the town. The local government hired an on-call doctor and three permanent nurses that will supervise the COVID-19 situation in the town.

Pero nagsusumikap tayo na sa [kabila] ng kakulangan ng staff. Patuloy ang pagseserbisyo natin sa mga taga-Trinidad. [But we are working hard already [despite] the lack of staff. We continue to serve the people of Trinidad.],” she shared. She added that volunteer doctors and all the frontliners have been a great help since the start of the vaccination rollout to protect them from the virus, citing the efficient vaccination efforts of the LGU that vaccines were given within three to five days.

Vaccination Rollout

The town chief lauded the Department of Health for the vaccines and deployment of additional medical force to vaccinate the people of Trinidad. “Ang munisipalidad ng Trinidad ay nagsusumikap upang mas mabigyan pa ang ating mga kababayan ng mga bakuna. [The municipality of Trinidad is working hard to provide more vaccines to our people.],” she said.

As of September 23, the Municipal Vaccination Team inoculated 8,696 individuals which is 30% of the total population of Trinidad.

“Sa katunayan, bukod sa araw-araw na [vaccination] sa Cultural Center ng Trinidad, mayroon din tayo na nakaschedule na clustered vaccination para sa mga malalayong barangay ng munisipalidad. [In fact, apart from the daily [vaccination] at the Cultural Center of Trinidad, we also have a scheduled clustered vaccination for the remote barangays of the municipality.],” she added.

Fair distribution of projects across all regions pushed and realized under Duterte admin

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday stressed how the Duterte administration has poured efforts into providing an equitable distribution of projects to other regions across the Philippines.

He noted that through the Build, Build, Build projects, the government was able to aid in shaping the potential of the countryside aside from focusing on further improving areas that are already highly urbanized.

“Nabungkag gyud kay makita man nato sa Build, Build, Build program, kung aha dunay mga projects sa uban Visayas, Mindanao, ug Luzon nga gawas sa Metro Manila [We really disintegrated it [projects and programs centered in Metro Manila]. We can see it through the Build, Build, Build program where we have various projects for Visayas, Mindanao, and other parts of Luzon outside of Metro Manila],” he said in an interview on Brigada News FM Gensan. He cited other big-ticket projects undertaken and completed in the past five years including the CebuCordova Link Expressway in Cebu Province, and road connectivity projects in Region 12. “The government continues to inject or pump prime the economy by giving focus to Build, Build, Build, especially in the last 8 months of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said. He also mentioned the series of infrastructure initiatives of the PCOO which included the completed Mindanao Media Hub, and the ongoing construction of buildings for some of the regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Just this Monday,

September 27, the PCOO joined the Department of Public Works and

Highways Region 10 (DPWH-10), the local government unit of Manolo

Fortich, and the Northern

Bukidnon State College for the groundbreaking ceremony of the P79 million Government

Communications Academy.

“These are some of the evidence that would prove that we decentralized government communications,” he said.

He also said that the administration has supported the implementation of the

Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling through the issuance of Executive Order No. 138 which will ensure that the policy of decentralization will be carried out systematically. September 25-October 1, 2021 | 45

Government media training facility to rise in Bukidnon

The construction of the country’s first Government Communications Academy (GCA) will finally begin following the groundbreaking ceremony here on Monday.

The GCA facility will be built on a 10,000 square meter lot donated by Manolo Fortich Mayor Clive D. Quiño situated at the Northern Bukidnon State College. Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in his message that the facility is one of the products of discussion made during the 2018 National Information Convention in Davao City.

“The conduct of the first-ever National Information Convention in Davao City in 2018 made a lot of headway in revolutionizing the way we report the news about the government and how we respond to concerns such as capacitating our public information officers,” he said in his message delivered by PCOO Assistant Secretary Ryan Vincent Uy.

“Fast forward to today, where we are marking a historic milestone for the collaborative effort and solidarity between government and private media in the service of the Filipino public,” he added.

The academy will not only be the National Communications

Training Center of the Philippines for all Information Officers of the government. It also aims to be a financially sustainable institution by engaging into partnerships with the private sector under lease agreements or joint ventures.

The project includes a two-storey main building, a parking lot as well as the general landscaping of the surrounding open area which will be fulfilled in phases.

Through a Memorandum of Agreement, the PCOO transferred to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the total amount of P79 million under its GAA FY 2021 to fund the construction of the main building. P30 million of which was funded through the Congressional initiative of Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri.

The DPWH is now finalizing the detailed architectural and engineering design of the project pursuant to Republic Act No. 9184.

“We are now realizing one of the greatest goals we have envisioned in the past five years of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration. Not long after this, we will be able to witness the actual physical manifestation of the administration’s allencompassing Tapang at Malasakit,” he said.

“Our hope is for this facility to be an avenue for our country’s media, its truth-tellers, its information officers to learn more, to be immersed in their potentials, and to be motivated in serving the people by keeping our democratic values alive and pushing for freedom of speech and the responsibilities that come with it,” he added.

Agri chief: Implementation of devolution to further strengthen gov’t efforts for agricultural developments

The agricultural developments in the country will be sustained in the coming years as the government prepares to fully devolve its functions and services to local government units, according to the Department of Agriculture.

In an interview with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday, September 24, during the Cabinet Report, Agriculture Secretary William Dar pointed out that the impending devolution will strengthen the department’s relationship with local government officials with the aim of fully developing the agricultural sector.

“Gusto kong idiin na lahat ng mga sangay o unit ng kagawaran na dapat i-devolve sa local government units po na sa ilalim ng Local Government Code of 1991 ay nagawa na ng departamento matapos ipasa ang batas 30 years ago. [I would like to emphasize that all branches or units of the department that should be devolved to local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991 have already been done by the department after the law was passed 30 years ago.],” he added.

He cited as an example the recent battle of the country against the spread of African Swine Fever that affected

the hog industry in the country since last year. Aside from the national government’s support, the local government has been playing a vital role in fighting the spread of the animal disease, he added.

Sec. Dar, on the other hand, admitted that the agriculture department is not in full capacity to seamlessly implement the devolution of its services due to lack of funds in the local government and insufficient training for modern technologies that can be utilized in agricultural developments.

“Ang problemang ito ang tinutugunan ng Mandanas Ruling sa pamamagitan ng paglalaan ng mas malaking pondo sa local government units. [This problem is already being addressed by the Mandanas Ruling by allocating more funds to local government units.],” he said.

The department also cited the establishment of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems or PAFES that keeps agricultural workers in provincial, municipal, and community-level on track on the latest technology and good practices in agricultural production and marketing.

The Mandanas ruling

In June 2021, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 138 ordering “the functions, services, and facilities which shall be fully devolved from the NG (national government) to the LGUs (local government units) no later than the end of FY (fiscal year) 2024.

This measure will give local government units more funds starting 2022 under the Mandanas ruling which was penned by the Supreme Court in 2018, mentioning that “local governments are entitled to a share of all national taxes, not just the national internal revenue taxes.”

The ruling has increased the Internal Revenue Allotment or budgets of local governments by around 50% in order to fully execute and deliver basic functions and services to the people. Under the said order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government is tapped to help improve and augment the capabilities of the local governments to deliver services and deliverables transferred to them.

“Ang pinakamalaking hamon ay nasa local government units ngayon, at ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ay willing na tumulong para sa transition na ito. [The biggest challenge is with local government units today, and the Department of Agriculture is willing to help this transition.],” Sec. Dar said.

He also emphasized that the success of the implementation of devolution can only be attained with the active participation of LGUs and local communities to improve agricultural productivity and promote agricultural development in their respective areas.

“Let me assure you that the Department of Agriculture will fully support the devolution of agricultural services to LGUs.” he concluded.

Vaccination will bring back country to normalcy – President Duterte

Vaccinating the population is the only way to gradually bring the country back to normalcy, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Monday night as he appealed once again to Filipinos to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease.

During a meeting on government’s COVID-19 interventions, President Duterte said the government normally wouldn’t interfere with its citizens’ religious or political beliefs and reasoning, but deciding not to get vaccinated could seriously impact the country’s overall health and economic recovery because herd immunity can only be achieved through mass immunization. Once herd immunity is achieved, it would be safe enough to gradually ease restrictions, President Duterte noted.

“I now encourage you --- those who have yet to receive the vaccines --- to get inoculated. Paulit-ulit kasi ‘to. We are almost pleading down on our knees, parang nakaluhod na kami nakikiusap sa taong-bayan ‘yung mga taong ayaw o hindi pa nagpabakuna at nandiyan naman ang available,” he said.

According to the President, individuals who refuse to get vaccinated even when vaccines become available in their locality are considered a “danger to society” and may compel him to invoke the police power of the state to protect the healthy population.

“You know, I do not want to advance this theory but under the police power of the state, everybody can be compelled to be vaccinated. Not because we do not believe in your theory or belief or your religion but because you are a carrier and a danger to society. Iyan ang problema diyan. It’s between your belief maybe, your religion, eh there is a division of you know religion and state,” he noted.

“Sa ordinaryong mga araw hindi naman nakikialam ang gobyerno ni minsan. Government has no power

to compel any religion, faith, or church to do a certain thing or not to do a certain thing. We can only cooperate. But itong police power of the state na hahawain mo kapwa tao mo patayin mo and maybe it would affect a large number of our people, then you are already a danger to society,” he explained.

At the same time, the President warned government employees to leave the government if they refuse inoculation, especially those at the frontlines tasked to transact with people.

“Tama ‘yan sa gobyerno, ayaw mo magpabakuna, umalis ka. Go out of government. Why? Because when you are with the government you face people, people transact business officials, well, audiences or visits. Eh kung ikaw ang carrier, ‘wag mong sabihin na ang relihiyon mo o ayaw ng aming paniwala o I just don’t believe it.”

“If everybody does not comply with the vaccines and we can have a wildfire spread, then the police must go in and intervene in your private life so that you cannot be a danger to society,” he added. lawyers who try to convince the public against getting vaccinated.

“Sana kung ganito naman na ayaw mo, huwag ka na lang --- tumahimik ka na lang… But there’s a, you know, freedom of speech in our country. Hindi kami nag-aano diyan. But sana naman you will go by the almost general trend all over the world na vaccination or to get vaccinated or inoculated is really the best defense for yourself and for your fellowmen,” he said.

The President also made an assurance that his administration is doing all that it can to encourage individuals to get the jab without “instilling fear” or threatening citizens to get immunized.

Citing a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the chief executive said majority of the unvaccinated persons who got infected with COVID-19 are likely to get hospitalized with more severe or critical conditions.

On the other hand, out of 13.8 million, only 242 fully vaccinated individuals contracted the disease, or merely 0.0017 percent of the total figures. naospital hindi na-vaccinean, walang vaccines, serious kaagad. You get what? You are in the critical list because, well, pagka critical ka, buksan ‘yung bunganga mo, buksan lahat, then ii-intubate ka,” he said.

“So I ask our kababayans to please get vaccinated when your turn comes so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.”

According to the country’s vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Philippines expects to receive at least 100 million vaccine doses by the end of October this year and aims to expand the immunization drive to include the general population as well as children.

More than 20.3 million Filipinos, or 26 percent of the country’s eligible population have been fully vaccinated, while 23.6 million have received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, government has administered a total of 44 million doses.

Economic centers across the country like Metro

Manila, Baguio City, Cebu

City, Iloilo City, and Davao

City have also surpassed 50 percent vaccination of the target population. PND September 25-October 1, 2021 | 51

Duque: Pharmally must compensate gov’t if face shield expiry date tampering is true

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. should compensate the government if it’s true that the company changed the expiration dates of medical-grade face shields it delivered to the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s health chief said on Monday.

In the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, a Pharmally official admitted changing the expiration dates of face shields procured by the government for medical frontliners. The Pharmally official disclosed that the company changed the 2020 production date making it 2021.

During a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he instructed the Department of Health’s (DOH) procurement and supply chain office to make an assessment on the production dates of the face shields delivered to the government.

“At kung totoong mayroon pong pandaraya o ito pong ginawa ng Pharmally ay kinakailangan ay bawiin ng gobyerno doon sa kompanyang iyan iyong isang taon na kanila pong tinamper,” Duque said.

“Kasi kung halimbawa 36 months at tinamper ‘yung production date from 2020 to 2021, so may isang taon na daya. So kinakailangan ‘yung isang taon na ‘yun magkaroon ng restitution sa gobyerno iyong halaga nung face shield.” |September 25-October 1, 2021

The health secretary also addressed the expiration issue of the face shields bought by the DOH through the Procurement ServiceDepartment of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Duque said the medical grade face shield contains foam and garter that may deteriorate over time, noting however, that the product should have a shelf life of about 36 months.

The health chief said the DOH inspection team observes strict guidelines before accepting deliveries and supplies must pass stringent inspection.

“Ganoon din po ang akin pong nakalap na report, ang PS-DBM mayroon din po silang inspection team,” he said.

“Hindi po sila basta-basta puwedeng tumanggap ng mga supplies na hindi po ito sinusuring maigi in terms of quality o ‘yung kalidad, iyon pong quantity, at in accordance with the technical specifications na iyan po ang inuutos ng DOH na dapat sundin ng supplier.” PND Caraga INFOCUS

Vulnerable residents in Balungao, Pangasinan receive support from Bong Go as he calls for unity and cooperation to overcome

pandemic each recipient while representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Prioritizing the welfare of Filipinos especially during these challenging times, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team to distribute assistance to 2,000 persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens in Balungao, Pangasinan on Wednesday, September 29.

To ensure the efficiency of the distribution, Go’s team carried out two separate activities at the Balungao Municipal Gymnasium and Balungao National High School, where they split the beneficiaries into smaller batches following necessary safety and health protocols.

The senator’s staff handed out meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to “Salamat kay President Duterte at kay Senator Bong Go sa kanilang malasakit sa aming mga taga-Pangasinan. Napakahirap ng buhay naming ngayong pandemic, lalo na sa aming magsasaka. Sa pagsasaka ko lang nabubuhay ang pamilya ko at sa tatlo kong anak. Kaya maraming salamat po talaga sa tulong na ito,” JC Briones, 48-yearold beneficiary, shared in an interview.

In his video message, Go reminded the public to continue observing health precautions against COVID-19, such

as regular washing of hands, wearing of masks and face shields when in public, maintaining social distance, and avoiding unnecessary travels.

As Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go urged the residents to get vaccinated to safeguard them against the virus. He also appealed to local authorities to reach out to the elderly and urgently assist them so they can be inoculated safely and efficiently in their own homes, if possible. “Pinag-aaralan po ng gobyerno ngayon na mas maluwag na restriction ‘pag ikaw ay bakunado. Kaya magpabakuna na po kayo. Libre po itong bakuna. Kung ano po ‘yung bakuna na nasa harapan n’yo po, magpabakuna na po kayo para po protektado kayo,” Go expressed.

“Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay at makamtan po natin ‘yung population protection ‘pag 50% na po ng population ang bakunado, at herd immunity naman po ‘pag 70% na po ng population ang bakunado,” he added.

Aside from the aid distributed, the Senator offered additional assistance to people with health concerns as he advised them to visit the Malasakit Center in Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City if they need medical assistance.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity

Sweepstakes Office, work hand-in-hand to help poor and indigent patients to reduce their hospital bills to the lowest amount possible.

Being the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, the senator is also dedicated to accelerate the economic progress of the town as he supported the rehabilitation of local access roads along Barangays San Julian and San Marcelino.

He also supported several other projects in the province, including the construction of farm-to-market roads in Aguilar, Calasiao, San Fabian, and Umingan; acquisition of medical equipment for Dialysis Center in Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos, and Dialysis Center in Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug; acquisition of ambulance units in Anda, Lingayen, and Mangaldan; and installation of street lights in Binmaley, San Jacinto, and Villasis. Go likewise extended support in the construction of multipurpose buildings in Burgos, Natividad, Pozorrubio, and Urbiztondo; acquisition of dump trucks in Mangaldan, and Villasis; construction of local bridge in Sto. Tomas; construction of market stalls in San Quintin; and construction of drainage canal in Asingan, and Mangatarem.

The Senator then commended Representative Tyrone Agabas, Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino III, Vice Governor Mark

Bong Go

Lambino, Mayor Riza Peralta, Vice Mayor Philipp Peralta, and many other local officials for supporting their constituents during national health crisis.

“Mga kababayan ko, kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy na magseseribisyo po sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya.

Kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin na makapagserbisyo pa po sa inyong lahat.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he ended.

Struggling sectors in San Manuel, Pangasinan receive support from Bong Go as he assures unhampered public service amid crises

The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided relief to vulnerable residents in San Manuel, Pangasinan on Thursday, September 30, as part of the senator’s efforts to assist in the recovery of pandemicaffected communities nationwide.

In his video message, Go asked the public to remain supportive of the government as authorities expedite efforts to vaccinate those in the priority groups. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the Senator reassured that the vaccine rollout will continue to intensify to reach indigents and those in far-flung areas soon.

He likewise urged those who are already included in the priority list of the national vaccination program to get vaccinated once doses are available in their community so they can be protected against COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Ginagawa po lahat ng gobyerno para po malampasan natin itong krisis na ito,” Go expressed.

“Ngayon, habang patuloy po ang pagbabakuna, kailangan po ang kooperasyon, kailangan po ang disiplina ng bawat

isa. Sumunod tayo sa mga health protocols – mask, face shield, social distancing, at hugas ng kamay. Kung hindi naman po kailangan, huwag munang umalis ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa po ang panahon,” he reminded.

For a well-organized distribution activity and to ensure the safety of 2,529 beneficiaries, composed of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, market vendors, persons with disabilities, and displaced overseas Filipino workers, Go’s personnel utilized two venues, namely San Manuel Gymnasium and Juan C. Laya Memorial School.

Go’s team grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches and then gave them relief items such as meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins while they strictly adhered to necessary safety and health protocols.

Meanwhile, selected individuals were given new pairs of shoes or bicycles. Others received computer tablets to help their children with their blended learning activities. “Ang importante po, tuluy-tuloy po ang kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan at makapagtapos po ng pag-aaral. Pakiusap ko lang po sa mga kabataan, mag-aral ho kayo nang mabuti para sumaya ang inyong mga magulang at kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito,” Go appealed.

As part of the national government’s commitment to support and provide for various sectors affected by the pandemic, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided each beneficiary with financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. Rogelio Sendiña Jr., a 47-year-old farmer and tricycle driver, shared how the pandemic greatly affected his situation. Sendiña expressed how he struggles to sustain his family’s needs even if he currently has two jobs.

“Kay Sir Bong Go na maraming naitulong sa amin, sana po ay marami ka pong matulungan na kagaya namin. ‘Yung natanggap ko po ngayon ay gagamitin ko po para sa pamilya ko, pambili ng pangangailangan namin para po may makain kami,” Sendiña said.

The Senator continued his message as he offered assistance to those with medical conditions needing treatment. He advised them to seek assistance from the nearby Malasakit Center located at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

To help several associations of farmers and fisherfolk, staff from the Department of Agriculture, in turn, extended financial grants to the local community of San Miguel through their Enhanced KADIWA Financial Grant program. Apart from the financial grants, DA granted the municipality with various agricultural machinery and equipment and fish fingerlings. Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit

Centers Act mandates the establishment of the centers in every

Department of Health-run hospital nationwide and in the Philippine General

Hospital in Manila to ensure that particularly poor and indigent September 25-October 1, 2021 | 57

patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs of the government.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” Go explained.

Ending his remarks, the Senator thanked the local government officials for their hard work and service to their constituents, including Representative Tyrone Agabas, Governor Amado Espino III, Vice Governor Mark Lambino, Mayor Kenneth Marco Perez, and Vice Mayor Alain Jerico Perez. On December 18, 2018, Go became an adopted son of the province of Pangasinan through a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and ratified by Governor Espino III. The province honored Go’s extraordinary capacity in public administration to motivate every local leader in the implementation of their plans and projects, according to the resolution.

“Ang hiling ko lang sana, suportahan natin ang ating Tatay Digong sa kanyang laban. Iisa po ang nais nating gawin bilang kapwa Pangasinense, ‘yon ay ang para sa kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go previously said to fellow Pangasinenses. To further create economic opportunities in the province, Go, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Burgos, Natividad, Pozorrubio, and Urbiztondo; acquisition of dump trucks in Mangaldan, and Villasis; construction of a local bridge in Sto. Tomas; construction of market stalls in San Quintin; and construction of drainage canals in Asingan, and Mangatarem.

He also supported the construction of farm-tomarket roads in Aguilar, Calasiao, San Fabian, and Umingan; acquisition of medical equipment for Dialysis Center in Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos, and Dialysis Center in Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug; acquisition of ambulance units in Anda, Lingayen, and Mangaldan; and the installation of street lights in Binmaley, San Jacinto, and Villasis.

The previous day, more struggling residents from the town of Balungao also received similar assistance from Senator Go.

Bulakenyos get a boost from Bong Go as his team helps communities in distress in Bulakan, Bustos and Guiguinto towns

In an effort to support the Duterte Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted a second activity in Calumpit, Bulacan on Friday, October 1, this time for the residents of Bulakan, Bustos and Guiguinto who are struggling to cope with the impacts of the ongoing crisis. Go recognized the disruptions caused by the pandemic in the everyday lives of the families in the area. He assured them that the nation will get through these difficult times but only if everyone works together by following the government’s protocols to reduce the transmission and spread of COVID-19.

“Lagi nating alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong magisa ang laban kontra pandemya. Hindi rin kakayanin ng ating mga medical frontliners kung patuloy na dadami ang kailangang dalhin sa mga ospital. Preventing the spread of the virus starts with us by being responsible citizens and following the health and safety protocols,” said Go.

“Ang ating pagiging mga responsableng mamamayan na nagmamalasakit sa

Bong Go

kapwa at nakikisama sa bayanihan ay ang susi sa ating mabilis na pag-ahon sa krisis. Magtulungan tayo para hindi bumagsak ang ating healthcare system habang binabalanse natin na pasiglahin muli ang ating ekonomiya,” he added.

The Senator’s personnel distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 800 residents at the Barangay Poblacion covered court in Calumpit. The activity was conducted in batches to ensure all protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.

His staff gave selected residents new pairs of shoes or bicycles which they can use for a more convenient commute. They also provided others with computer tablets to help their children access educational materials for their classes under the blended learning approach.

Moreover, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program in a separate distribution. “Maraming, maraming salamat kay Sir Bong Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte para sa natanggap namin na tulong. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil hindi po ninyo kami nakalimutan ngayong pandemya. Malaking bagay ang tulong na ito sa dalawang baby ko. Sana hindi kayo magsawang tumulong at marami pa kayong matulungan lalo na dito sa aming lugar” said Judy Anne Tablan, 22, a resident of Bulakan.

As part of his commitment to assist poor and indigent patients, the Senator offered additional assistance to those who

need medical care for illnesses or injuries. He also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City or Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Santa Maria.

The centers are onestop shops which brings together the national agencies that can assist patients in reducing their hospital bills to the lowest possible amount. The agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the bill that became Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The program has opened 141 centers and assisted over two million patients nationwide since its inception in 2018.

On this note, the Senator recognized Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Governor Daniel Fernando, Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Mayor James de Jesus, Vice Mayor Victor de Belen, and other local officials for their leadership and hard work during the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he has supported numerous infrastructure initiatives in the province to facilitate the development of the local industries and services. Among these were the construction of slope concrete river walls in Barangays Meysulao, Meyto, Bulusan, Santa Lucia, San Jose, San Miguel, and Sapang Bayan in Calumpit.

Go also supported the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and construction of a multi-purpose building in Malolos City; construction of drainages; provision of medical equipment for local hospitals; improvement of the Pandi District Hospital; and concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso; and many more.

On Tuesday, September 28, his team conducted a similar activity at the same venue for hundreds of other lowincome residents from Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Bulakan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Malolos, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Norzagaray, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso, Santa Maria and San Jose del Monte.

Pilot Covid-19 vaccination of minors on Oct. 15

The Philippines will kick off the pilot rollout of the inoculation of minors against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Oct. 15, Malacañang announced on Thursday.

This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the proposal to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 under a “phased approach”, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The pilot will begin on October 15, 2021 under a phased approach as may be determined by the National Vaccination Operations Center,” said Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson.

Roque said minors will be inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines that are available for emergency use.

“Approved by the IATF is the pilot rollout of the vaccination of children ages 12 to 17 years old with vaccines granted Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the Covid-19 vaccination of the general population, including minors, in October.

To date, healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and indigents are being prioritized in the government’s immunization drive against Covid-19.

Most local government units (LGUs) are ready to start the vaccination program for minors and the general public, National Task Force Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said earlier Thursday.

The Philippines has so far received over 71.324 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, as of Thursday.

Around 45,147,477 Covid-19 vaccine vials have already been administered nationwide since the vaccination program was launched in March this year.

Vaccination vs. MR-Td

Meantime, the IATF-EID also endorsed to LGUs the conduct of routine and catch-

(File photo)

up immunization and the community-based MeaslesRubella and Tetanus-Diphtheria (MR-Td) immunization activities of the Department of Health, Roque said.

LGUs, Roque said, are enjoined to fast-track the MR-Td vaccination “by dedicating Wednesdays for child vaccination by shifting healthcare workers from Covid-19 vaccination targets on said day for the mentioned purpose.”

He said those who will be vaccinated against MR-Td will be allowed to go out.

“Because of this, children less than 2 years old, 6-7 years old, and 12-13 years old shall be exempt from community quarantine restrictions for this purpose,” Roque said. (PNA/ Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)

Covid-19 jabs for teens ‘very different’ from Dengvaxia: NTF

A ranking government official said coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs for adolescents will be both “safe and effective,” noting that several other countries have already safely administered these vaccines in their younger population.

During the arrival of over 1.2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine at the NAIA Terminal 1 on Thursday, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country’s children and adolescent population, or Category C, will be vaccinated “slowly, surely and closely monitored.”

“I know na marami talagang nag-aalala sa Dengvaxia, but this is very different. Nakita natin na nagamit muna ang mga vaccine na ‘to sa mga milyon-milyon na mga bata globally (I know that many are worried about Dengvaxia, but this is very different. We have seen this vaccine used in millions of children globally),” Galvez said.

He noted that some countries have even begun vaccinating those aged 5 to 11 years old.

Similar to the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to the Category A population

Vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. (PNA file photo)

-- those in the frontlines, senior citizens, and with comorbidities -- back in March, he said the vaccination for teens and children in the country will be cautious, with only five to six select hospitals specializing in comorbidities to be allowed to vaccinate. -- with comorbidities or those whose parents are health care workers will be prioritized.

“And then we would observe, kung maging maganda ang flow, ang gagawin natin (if it flows well, what we will do is) we will go to other cities in Metro Manila,” Galvez said.

“For example sa [Philippine] Heart Center [PHC], sa [Philippine] Children’s [Medical] Center (PCMC), sa NKTI (National Kidney and Transplant Institute), at sa UP [Philippine] General Hospital (UP-PGH) -- yan yung mga tinitignan natin na pwede mag-open muna in the meantime (For example at the PHC, PCMC, NKTI, and the UP-PGH -- that’s where we’re thinking to open in the meantime),” Galvez said. He called on the public to avoid being “over-cautious,” noting that Covid-19 vaccines used in the country have already been proven to be “very safe and effective.”

“I would like to appeal to the public na gagawin po namin lahat to make sure na our vaccination will be safe, yung safety measures i-implement po natin (we will do everything to make sure our vaccinations will be safe, we will implement safety measures),” Galvez said. (PNA/Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)

Over 45M Covid vax doses administered in PH

The Philippines has already administered a total of 45,147,477 doses of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) nationwide, the government’s task force on pandemic response said on Thursday.

Based on the data from the National Covid-19 Vaccination dashboard as of Sept. 29, a total of 21,103,317 Filipinos have already acquired full protection against the dreaded disease, while the 24,044,260 are waiting for the schedule to get their second dose.

The average daily jabs administered in the last seven days stood at 353,774 doses.

National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government has allotted 29 million doses for the vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

The inoculation of adolescents will be piloted in five identified hospitals in Metro Manila.

Those children with comorbidities will be prioritized in the test run of pediatric vaccination.

The Philippines has received a total of 71,324,50 doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of Sept. 30, with additional 883,350 Pfizer doses and another 2.5

(File photo) million Sinovac --both purchased by the government -- will be delivered on Friday.

Galvez said a total of 6,085,170 doses out of the 40 million doses of government-procured Pfizer jabs have been delivered to the country.

The country’s Food and Drug Administration has initially approved the use of Pfizer and Moderna for pediatric vaccination, which will start on Oct. 15. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)

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