Senator Francis Tolentino on Sunday appealed to mayors, vice mayors and other local government officials to take the lead in the rollout of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
(Henzberg Austria / Senate PRIB / FILE PHOTO)
Tolentino said it is important that local government units (LGUs) are leading by example and making attempts to remove vaccine hesitancy in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign by ensuring that local officials are getting themselves vaccinated.
“Siguro yung pamunuan mismo ang manguna – mga mayors, vice mayors, mga konsehal, yung mga kapitan, (I think the local leadership should take the lead—mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay leaders),” Tolentino said in an interview over Radio DZRH.
“Ipakita nila na sila mismo ay nagpabakuna nang sa ganun, magsilbi ring halimbawa doon sa mga nasasakupan nila na safe yung pagbabakuna (They should show that they are also getting the jabs, and set an example to their constituents in demonstrating that it’s safe to get vaccinated),” he said.
While it is understandable for the LGUs to follow the guidelines on the priority list, the senator said it is important that LGUs, mayors in particular, can show to the public their confidence in the vaccines procured by the government.
“Kailangan dumating yung pagkakataon na sila talaga ay makita (ng publiko) na binabakunahan (The public should have the opportunity to see them getting vaccinated),” the former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman said.
“Pumasok na itong isang brand, bukod doon sa Sinovac, yung AstraZenica. So palagay ko marami nang magpapabakunang namumuno sa mga pamahalaang local (Aside from Sinovac, another brand AstraZenica has also entered the country. So I think more local officials will be able to get vaccinated),” Tolentino stressed.
At the same time, the lawmaker warned employers in the private sector against terminating employees who would refuse to get vaccinated, stressing that the government’s inoculation program is not mandatory.
“Kung ire-require ito na pwede kang tanggalin, mali po yun. Labag po sa batas po yun (If employers will require that you get vaccinated and say that you risk losing your job if you reject, that’s wrong. That is against the law),” he further said.