Accelerate COVID-19 vaccination of teachers with face-to-face classes pilot run - Gatchalian

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) to help the Department of Education (DepEd) in accelerating full COVID-19 vaccination coverage among teachers.

Gatchalian made this call as the government eyes to start the pilot test of limited face-to-face classes in 120 schools on November 15.

In a Senate panel hearing on preparations for limited face-to-face classes, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reported that 57% of teachers are already vaccinated, which is equivalent to more than 580,000 of around 970,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel.

"I know that some LGUs are partnering with their local districts or their local divisions to prioritize teachers. The DILG can play a very big role in encouraging or even pushing for these partnerships," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

DILG Undersecretary Ricojudge Echiverri assured lawmakers that the department will work with the DepEd to speed up the inoculation of teachers. The DILG official added that the department will consolidate LGUs' data on the COVID-19 vaccination coverage of teachers which will be reconciled with DepEd's figures.

To complete the vaccination of teachers, Undersecretary Malaluan also assured the Senate panel that the DepEd will pursue an institutional approach to vaccination and work with the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19. Teachers are included in the A4 priority list of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

"Even though the teacher wants to be in the school but cannot get access to the vaccines because there is no prioritization, then it's not the fault of the teacher that he or she cannot get access to the vaccines. So, the point is to give special priority to our teachers because the push here is to go back to face-to-face classes," said Gatchalian.

As of October 10, 49.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were already administered, according to the National Covid-19 vaccination dashboard and 85.5 million vaccine doses have been delivered to the country as of October 9. The vaccination of the general population has been scheduled to start this month.

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Madaliin ang pagbabakuna sa mga guro kasunod ng limited face-to-face classes - Gatchalian

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at mga local government units (LGUs) na tulungan ang Department of Education (DepEd) sa mas mabilis na pagpapabakuna ng mga guro laban sa COVID-19 lalo na't nakatakdang simulan ang pilot test ng limited face-to-face classes sa Nobyembre 15.

Sa isang pagdinig ng Senado ukol sa paghahanda ng pamahalaan para sa limited face-to-face classes, iniulat ni DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan na halos animnapung (57) porsyento na ng mga guro ang nabakunahan kontra COVID-19. Katumbas nito ang limang daan at walumpung libong (580,000) mga guro sa halos isang milyong (970,000) mga guro at non-teaching personnel.

"Alam kong may mga lokal na pamahalaan na nakikipagtulungan sa kanilang mga lokal na distrito o division upang mabigyang prayoridad ang pagbabakuna ng mga guro laban sa COVID-19. Malaki ang maaaring maging papel ng DILG sa paghikayat o pagsulong sa ganitong uring mga ugnayan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Tiniyak naman ni DILG Undersecretary Ricojudge Echiverri na ang kagawaran ay makikipagtutulungan sa DepEd upang mapabilis ang pagpapabakuna ng mga guro. Dagdag pa ng opisyal, titignan at susuriin ng ahensya ang datos mula sa mga LGU pagdating sa mga gurong nabakunahan na. Ang datos na ito ay pagbabanggain sa datos na nakalap ng DepEd.

Upang matapos ang pagbabakuna ng mga guro, tiniyak din ni Undersecretary Malaluan na ipapatupad ng DepEd ang institutional approach sa pagpapabakuna. Makikipagtulungan din aniya ang kagawaran sa National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19. Ang mga guro ay kabilang sa A4 priority list sa COVID-19 vaccination program ng pamahalaan.

"Hindi pagkukulang ng guro kung gusto niyang pumunta sa paaralan ngunit hindi pa siya nakakatanggap ng bakuna. Kaya dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang ating mga guro lalo na't ang layunin natin ay makabalik sa face-to-face classes," dagdag na pahayag ng senador.

Noong Oktubre 10, umabot na sa apatnapu't siyam (49.6) na milyong doses ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 ang naiturok sa buong bansa ayon sa National COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. Samantala, pumalo na sa walumpu't limang milyong (85.5) bakuna ang dumating na sa Pilipinas noong Oktubre 9. Ang pagpapabakuna sa general population ay nakatakdang magsimula ngayong buwan.

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