The Department of the Interior and Local Government urged all barangays, DILG officers, and local vaccination operations center (VOC) to strengthen their information drive on the vaccination rollout against COVID-19.

Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs and Special Concerns Marjorie Jalosjos graced the ceremonial vaccination in Cebu at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center today.
 
Jalosjos expressed DILG’s support to the national government’s COVID- 19 immunization program, which utilizes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in order to harmonize the efforts needed for its successful and effective implementation.
 
“Let us keep our faith that this pandemic will soon come to an end. This COVID-19 vaccine rollout, for one, gives us a glimmer of hope. Rest assured, DILG is one with you in this fight against this invisible enemy,” she added.
 
She said that the Barangay Assembly Day, which can be conducted on any of Saturdays or Sundays of March 2021, is a proper venue to inform and motivate their constituents to be vaccinated.
 
“Ayaw mo kahadlok kay di mohatag ang gobyerno kung di siya safe,” Jalosjos added.
 
DILG directed the local government units to create vaccination operations center and VOC hotlines, and formulate their vaccination plan.
 
Aside from the creation of VOCs, the preparation for the masterlist of priority eligible vaccinees and existing human resources and personnel needed in the vaccination program such as doctors, nurses, barangay health workers, and other medical personnel in LGUs is also ongoing.
 
Jalosjos also called on to replicate the deployment of DILG Cebu City of its hired contact tracers to augment the workforce of the city’s VOC. Cebu City has been identified as one of the priority areas in the country for the rollout of vaccines.
 
Jalosjos said the LGUs are identifying areas for possible vaccine centers, available cold chain storages, and other logistical requirements for easy implementation of the program.
 
Also present in today’s ceremony were Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Department of Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, IATF Visayas Chief Implementer Melquiades Feliciano, DILG-7 Director Leocadio Trovela, DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas, and other officials.
 
Local Chief Executives in Cebu also signed a pledge of commitment to the vaccination program.