ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has urged private-sector employers across Western Visayas to allow workers to be excused from work when accompanying their young children for scheduled measles-rubella vaccinations or caring for them following adverse reactions to the vaccine.
DOLE Region 6 director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. issued the advisory on August 17 in support of the government’s nationwide Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) being implemented by the Department of Health (DOH).
The regional directive is anchored on Labor Advisory No. 02, Series of 2026 and Article 5 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended.
“The DOLE Regional Offices shall promote the importance of the immunization program through their enforcement activities and participate in the nationwide information campaign to prevent and control measles-rubella and polio in the community,” part of the DOLE-6 advisory read.
Under the advisory, employers are strongly encouraged to excuse employees from work when they accompany their children for scheduled vaccinations or when they need to care for their children because of adverse effects or reactions to the vaccine on the day after vaccination.
Employees returning to work must present proof of vaccination. They may also be allowed to use available leave credits during the MR-SIA, subject to company policy or applicable collective bargaining agreements.
The advisory covers all private-sector employers, particularly establishments employing parents of children aged six to 59 months.
Rodriguez also encouraged employers to help disseminate information on measles-rubella vaccination through seminars, information sessions, educational materials and online platforms.
Employers were likewise urged to coordinate with the health offices of local government units on immunization schedules to help ensure that eligible children of their employees receive the MR vaccine.
Companies with institutionalized immunization programs are encouraged to conduct MR-SIA activities in their establishments through their occupational safety and health committees as part of their occupational safety and health or family welfare programs.
Employers may also establish temporary vaccination posts within their premises and utilize occupational health personnel as members of vaccination teams, when applicable.
The labor advisory comes as Iloilo Province intensifies efforts to vaccinate 172,360 children aged six to 59 months against measles and rubella from August 10 to 28.
As of August 17, 64,038 children, or 37.15 percent of the province’s eligible population, had already received the vaccine.
Five local government units have surpassed the 51-percent cumulative target, led by Miag-ao with 68.27 percent, or 3,680 of its 5,390 eligible children.
Guimbal followed with 58.16 percent, or 1,379 of 2,371 children; Lemery, 55.60 percent, or 1,415 of 2,545; Mina, 54.78 percent, or 894 of 1,632; and Passi City, 53.67 percent, or 4,250 of 7,919.
“We commend all our local health workers, vaccination teams, barangay health workers, volunteers, and LGU partners for their tireless efforts in bringing vaccination services closer to every child. Your dedication and commitment are making a difference,” the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said.
The IPHO urged LGUs to review and recalibrate their vaccination session plans to close remaining gaps and catch up with the cumulative target.
“Let us keep the momentum going and work together to reach every eligible child. We also encourage parents and guardians to welcome our vaccination teams and ensure that their children aged 6–59 months receive the MR vaccine,” the IPHO added./PN
