File photo
MABALACAT CITY – Citing their contribution in propelling the economy, the local government under the leadership of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo is set to inoculate owners and employees of small to medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in this city.
“Maraming na po ang mga programa na ating inilunsad upang mailapit sa mga mamamayan ang mga supply ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga SMEs, partikular sa mga may-ari ng mga barberya, sari-sari stores, vulcanizing shops, at marami pang iba, ay kinakitaan din natin ng pagpapahalaga,” said Mayor Garbo.
“Kung noon ay nababalitaan lang natin ang COVID-19 sa mga karatig-rehiyon, ngayon ay nasa komunidad na natin ito o maaaring nasa tahanan na natin. Bahagi ng ating pag-iibayo sa ating vaccination program ay ang pagbabakuna sa mga immediate service providers sa ating mga pamayanan na malimit na puntahan ng ating mga kababayan,” Garbo added.
According to the World Bank Organization, SMEs play a major role in most economies particularly in developing countries like the Philippines. Moreover, the sector takes up 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment, worldwide.
Under the city program, SME-employers and workers can now receive their COVID-19 jabs by submitting a copy of their Business Permits or Barangay Permits, and by enlisting the names of their workers, to be coordinated and forwarded to the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) located at the Mabalacat City Hall.
The CPDO said that all establishments whose workforce have received complete COVID-19 doses will receive a safety certification from the city government.
For his part, Mayor Garbo said that the initiative is an added program to the compendium of COVID-19 Vaccination Programs of the city aimed at protecting Mabalaqueños against the virus and make the government’s immunization program within people’s reach.
Aside from the six (6) hubs at the SM City Clark main vaccination site, Mabalaqueños can now reach vaccination services through alternative venues such as the one (1) at the city hall and five (5) satellite centers in Barangay Camachiles (with fast lanes for senior citizens), San Isidro, Duquit, Sapang Biabas, and Madapdap.
Meanwhile, the city government continues its inoculation of health care workers, senior citizens, workers in essential sectors, tourism and economic frontliners, transport groups, and the general population accruing 147, 617 vaccinated individuals in Mabalacat City, to date.
