The ongoing week-long celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is highlighted by the vaccination of education front liners from various higher education institutions (HEIs).
CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III, along with local executives, led the symbolic vaccination of education frontliners from Marikina Polytechnic College and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina on Wednesday, May 19.
On May 18, during the first-ever celebration of National Higher Education Day, CHED also partnered with the City Government of Manila and jointly conducted a symbolic vaccination of higher education frontliners at the Universidad de Manila (UDM).
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De Vera, in an online press briefing, said that these initiatives are meant to highlight the importance of education frontliners in ensuring the continuous operation of schools in the midst of the pandemic.
“Our message there is we hope that the other LGUs will follow the lead of Manila and start vaccinating their education frontliners in preparation of the closing of the school year and also eventually the opening of the next school year,” De Vera said.
De Vera was joined by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Manila Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan, and UDM officials led by University President Maria Lourdes Tiquia.
The ceremonial vaccination included 100 UDM employees to ensure that they continue to receive and process student requirements such as clearances, transcript of records, and other credentials as the academic year nears its end.
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In April, De Vera said that he fought for the upgrading of the education frontliners from B1 to A4 in the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). “I am happy that our celebration of National Higher Education Day includes the vaccination of 100 UDM frontliners with no less than the DOH Secretary and Manila Vice Mayor leading the effort,” he added.
Lacuna-Pangan administered the shots to five of UDM personnel composed of a janitor, security guard, information and communications director, full-time faculty and a registrar’s office employee.
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Five UDM frontliners were vaccinated including Mary Jane Quintana from the Registrar’s office; Rogelio Garado from the Facilities, Grounds and Janitorial Section; Jeffrey Litan from the Treasury Department; Marjune Del Valle from the City Security Office and; Noami Solano from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Duque, on the other hand, said that the symbolic vaccination is also the response of the government on the dedication and services being given by the workers in the education sector - thus, their protection and safety should be ensured.
CHED commenced its 27th Founding Anniversary on May 17 with the theme, “Padyak! Moving Forward, Claiming Victory for Philippine Higher Education (Pamantasan: Pandayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran).”
De Vera said that this year’s celebration commemorates a “significant milestone for CHED which has accomplished a number of groundbreaking undertakings amidst the challenging circumstances” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.