BALANGA CITY — The provincial government of Bataan on Monday held a forum
with all 237 barangay chairmen of the province for the launching Tuesday of a
five-day massive vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease with incentives
to stop the rising cases of infections.
Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III, Vice Gov. Cris Garcia, and provincial health office
chief Dr. Rosanna Buccahan led the forum asking the barangay chairmen to use
their convincing power to persuade, through house-to-house campaigns, those
who have not yet been vaccinated or those still not receiving booster shots to
come to 20 vaccination sites in the province.
The governor said the “Bakunahan Bayanihan sa Barangay: Panalo ang Bakunado
at Boosted na Bataeño” that will be held from July 20 – 23 and July 25 with
incentives may be considered as the first in the country.
Daily raffles will be held in each of the 20 vaccination sites with those to be
vaccinated having the chance to win from P500 – P1,000 in cash.
On July 25, a grand draw in each of the vaccination sites will be conducted with
200 winning cash of P2,000 each, 100 winning P5,000 each, and 60 winning
P10,000 each. Aside from the cash prizes, laptops are at stake for 20 winners and
tablets for another 20 winners.
Approved for vaccination are all five years old and above for the first dose, second
dose, all 12 years old and above for the third dose or first booster shot and
immunocompromised, senior citizens, and healthcare workers for the fourth dose
or second booster shot.
Buccahan said as of July 18 report, Bataan has 182 active Covid–19 cases with 58
admitted in hospitals and 124 on home/facility quarantine.
In the same report, the province has 38,512 total confirmed cases, 1,426 total
deaths and 36,904 total recoveries.
On July 2, Bataan recorded 56 active cases but in previous months, it was down to
10.
Buccahan, however, said that the Covid- 19 situation is still low risk as to hospital
bed utilization with bed occupancy rate at 16.5%. Of the total 588 beds in 15
facilities, only 97 were occupied leaving 491 still vacant.
“Pero, huwag na nating hintayin na magamit pa ang mga bed na iyan sa darating
na mga panahon at sana huwag magkulang kaya galingan ang kampanya sa pagbu-booster para ma-achieve ang 90% ng mga kababayan ay bakunado,” she said.
Buccahan said they are after 452,000 individuals who have not yet received their
booster dose: “Marami pa kaming hindi nabu-booster na 12 years old and above
kaya sana bago mag-open ang mga klase ay siguraduhin ng ating mga nanay at
tatay na ang kanilang mga anak na papasok para sa face to face ay handa,
protektado.”
“Pabakunahan na nila ang kanilang mga anak ng 3rd dose para sa 12 years old and
above at ganoon din ang mga 5 to 11 years old na pabigyan na ng 1st dose kung
hindi pa nabibigyan at i-fully vaccinated ang mga ito,” she added.
The governor said the five-day vaccination covers all 237 barangays in 11 towns
and one city in Bataan. He said that vaccination will continue even after the five-
day period.
“Masasabinjg maaaring ito ang kauna-unahan sa Pilipinas pero sabi ni Dr.
Buccahan ay mayroong ilulunsad din ang national government at siyempre ito ay
magpapatulong din sa mga local government na pareho ding kampanya para sa
pagpapabakuna,” Garcia said.
“Ang maganda dito ay medyo nauna na tayo at kung ano man ang resulta na
lalabas ngayong limang araw lalo na ang paghouse to house ng ating barangay ay
mapagpapatuloy sa mga darating na panahon at kahit maglaunch ang national
government ay tayo naman ay tuloy-tuloy sa saturation drive para sa
pagbabakuna,” the governor added.
Garcia reminded his constituents that aside from observing health protocol,
vaccination is an effective way of controlling Covid–19.
“Although malaki ang in-increase ng Covid-19 cases sa Bataan, malayong malayo
pa din ito kumpara sa mga peak noong mga nakaraan na nagkaroon ng Delta at
simula ng Omicron pero nakakabahala pa din dahil mula sa kulang sampu na lang
ang kaso dito sa Bataan ay ngayon naman ay umabot na sa 182 na malaking
porsiyento ang itinaas pero very manageable pa din at kinakailangan lang talaga
na tuloy-tuloy ang pagbabakuna kaya ako ay nanawagan,” the governor said.
“Nananawagan ang inyong lingkod sa lahat ng ating kababayan na sana kunin
natin ang pagkakataon para madagdagan o kaya lalo pang mapalakas ang
proteksyon natin laban sa Covid-19. Nandiyan pa din ang Covid-19 makalipas ang
dalawang taon ng pandemya ay nandiyan pa din pero katulad ng panay kong
sinasabi ay kailangan tayong matuto kung paano mamuhay kasama ang Covid-19
at isang malaking bahagi dito ang pagbabakuna,” Garcia said.
