ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 6 is still waiting for the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to start rolling out its “FreeBis” (Free Bisikleta) program.
Earlier, Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that those under A4 category (essential workers) of the vaccination prioritization framework would be given “FreeBis” if they complete their vaccination – two doses – against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Just like other DOLE regional offices, Western Visayas waits for the IRR, too, said John Mandario, DOLE-6 information officer in an interview with Panay News.
They could not start implementing without the green light from the central office, he stressed.
Mandario, however, encouraged those belonging to the A1 to A3 categories (healthcare workers, elderly and persons with comorbidities) who have yet to avail themselves of the vaccines against COVID-19 to get vaccinated.
More people were inquiring about the “FreeBis”, he revealed.
Bello earlier said they would give opportunities to the inoculated A4 group to start their own business by giving them “FreeBis”, a program in partnership with the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC).
“With free bicycles, beneficiaries can start their own business. These also come with cellphones with P5,000 worth of load,” Bello said.
Initially, 2,000 bicycles would be given away – 1,000 in the National Capital Region, and 1,000 in other regions.
As of June 27, the Department of Health in Region 6 recorded a total of 379,289 individuals in the A priority group that already received their first dose of anti-coronavirus jabs. Some 115,930 already completed – two doses – their vaccination.
For A1 category (healthcare workers), out of the 129,459 master-listed individuals, 108,140 received their first dose, where71,787 got their second dose.
For A2 (senior citizens), out of the 793,422 master-listed individuals, 127,948 got their first dose; 23,060 received their second dose.
For A3 (persons with co-morbidities), meanwhile, 125,223 got their first dose while 19,047 were given second dose out of the 181,445 masterlisted individuals./PN
