BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson bucked proposals to impose sanctions on local chief executives whose areas have low coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination turnout.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to sanction LGUs and local chief executives not performing well in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
According to Lacson, the national government should first check the reasons why there is low vaccination turnout.
He also pointed out that it is only now that vaccine allocations from the national government have increased.
Negros Occidental has so far vaccinated 25 percent of its 1.8 million target population.
Lacson encourages local government units (LGUs) to be creative when encouraging their constituents to get vaccinated. Others started giving rewards such as cash or grocery items.
On Wednesday, President Duterte ordered DILG secretary Eduardo Año to impose sanctions on LGUs and LCEs not performing or not using the vaccines given to them in the most expeditious manner.
The President also ordered agencies to make sure that LGUs will receive enough daily vaccine supply. The government aims to administer one million doses or more every day.
The President also ordered the use of the police and military air assets in the COVID-19 vaccine delivery to provinces and municipalities.
Meanwhile, La Carlota City is still the top performing LGU in terms of vaccination accomplishment.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said 50.34 percent, or 23,721 residents there received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (as of Nov. 7).
The city has fully vaccinated 35.43 percent of its target population which is around 16,698.
Silay City followed with 37,636 individuals or 40.57 percent of the target population having received one dose while 31,900 are now fully vaccinated.
In Pulupandan, 7,997 individuals received their jabs (first dose), while 6,541 already completed their recommended doses.
Meanwhile, the town of Hinigaran only vaccinated 9,661 of their 89,387 target population. Around 5,678 individuals or 9.07 percent of the target have been fully vaccinated./PN