LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government is studying the possibility of implementing the no vaccine, no travel policy for public utility drivers to help in increasing the number of vaccinated residents as part of the ongoing efforts to achieve population protection and eventual herd immunity.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda stated that municipal officials have been aware of the discrimination that the policy will create that is why the local government is trying its best to look for other ways to convince people to be vaccinated with the available vaccines instead of threatening or compelling residents to be inoculated.
He pointed out that the government understands the predicament of some residents not to be inoculated for medical reasons but as much as possible, people must be vaccinated to ensure that they will have added protection from the severe infection of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The local chief executive claimed that it is important that people get vaccinated because it will be illogical for some sectors to be vaccinated when others have not been inoculated.
According to him, it is not proper for drivers to be vaccinated when their passengers have not been inoculated that is why there is still a greater chance for the virus to be transmitted, thus, it is best for most of the residents to get vaccinated for the realization of the desired population protection and eventual herd immunity.
Earlier, the municipal government opened a number of vaccination centers at the Benguet State University (BSU) and the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) to provide more venues for people to get vaccinated.
Further, the local government also opened a vaccination center right at the public market.
Mayor Salda stipulated that the local government will continue to appeal to the residents in the town’s 16 barangays to be vaccinated as the concerned offices have been tasked to provide the necessary schedules on the conduct of vaccination in the different barangays to bring to the people the vaccines.
While there has been a significant decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases being recorded in the municipality daily, the mayor stipulated this should not make people complacent to prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents that might cause the further transmission of the virus and result in another surge in cases.
Salda urged the residents to sustain their compliance to the implementation of the minimum public health standards, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, observance of physical distancing and the practice of personal hygiene and disinfection, because these are still part of the better normal to prevent them from unnecessarily contracting the virus that might compromise their health. By HENT
