Bontoc, Mountain Province – A total of 1,726 individuals received their COVID-19 vaccine on the three-day Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days in this capital town from November 29, 2021, until December 1, 2021.
The number includes those who received their first dose, second dose, or booster dose.
According to Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, Bontoc has targeted to vaccinate 518 individuals in a day.
During the post-evaluation of the workforce in the late afternoon of December 1, 2021, Dr. Gomez reported that Bontoc was able to vaccinate 515 individuals on the first day. There were 551 who were inoculated on the second day and 660 on the third day.
The high number of individuals vaccinated is also attributed to the efforts of the Vaccination teams who went around the barangays to inoculate those who were not able to travel to the Bontoc Municipal Capitol which has been identified as the vaccination site. With the three-day national vaccination, there is no wastage of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Ma. Corazon Bernabe of the Department of Health- Center for Health Development – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CHD-CAR) lauded the Municipality of Bontoc for attaining its target eligible population to be vaccinated in the three-day national vaccination.
She mentioned that it is a manifestation of unity and cooperation among the Bontoc community. She added that the number of vaccinated individuals is not only a number but represents a life saved from the deadly virus.
“Lubos an gaming pasasalamat dahil sa loob ng tatlong araw na Bayanihan, Bakunahan, ipinakita ninyo na ang Bontoc ay iisang pamilya. Ang bawat isang numero ay buhay ng inyong kapamilya, kamag-anak, kaibigan at kakilala,” Dr. Bernabe said.
Dr. Gomez and Municipal Immunization Program Coordinator Oliver Gacusana expressed their profound gratitude to all the workforce and volunteers that led to the successful, fast, orderly, and peaceful national vaccination days in the capital town.
The partner agencies of the Bontoc LGU are the Department of Health (DOH), Bontoc Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Army, Philippine Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) through the College of Nursing/ Nursing Department, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), DepEd, and Provincial Government of Mountain Province through Bontoc General Hospital and Provincial Health Office.
In response, the partner agencies thanked the Bontoc LGU through the MHO for the fruitful partnership. Also, they assured their support to the COVID- 19 vaccination program of the government as they look forward to collaboration with the Bontoc LGU and other partner agencies and stakeholders in ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against COVID-19.
Sangguniang Bayan member and Committee on Health Chairperson Jerome Tudlong, Jr., who represented Mayor Franklin Odsey thanked all the workforce from the Bontoc LGU, partner national government agencies, and stakeholders for the orderly and fast vaccination rollout.
He assured the usual support of the present administration on the municipality’s COVID-19 response.
In an interview, Mayor Odsey who also chairs the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (MIATF) expressed his happiness for the high and positive response from the public to be inoculated.
Odsey calls on those who are not yet vaccinated to avail of the same for their protection and those people around them.
Per Proclamation No. 1253, November 29, 2021, until December 01, 2021, is declared Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days.// Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
