Bureau of Customs (BOC) employees assigned at the Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Port of NAIA) will start to receive vaccinations against the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Saturday, June 19.
The customs employees will be inoculated under the “RESBAKUNA sa Bureau of Customs-NAIA” COVID-19 vaccination program, which will be handled by the Department of Health (DOH).
Port of NAIA District Collector Mimel Talusan said that the workers assigned at the airport are considered frontliners, thus they have been included under the A4 priority group in the national government's vaccination drive.
Talusan stressed that since the start of the pandemic, the bureau has continued to perform its duty in protecting the country's borders from illicit shipments as well as ensuring the swift release of medical supplies and equipment needed in the fight against COVID-19 while also contributing to the economic recovery of the country.
"Notwithstanding the COVID-19 threat since the onset of pandemic, BOC-NAIA frontliners continuously working 24/7, and remain committed performing government service," the district collector said.
She said now that they are about to get vaccinated, Port of NAIA employees are expected to carry on with their essential duties "and become proactive government workers best in performing our mandates".
The Port of NAIA has played a vital role in the importation of vaccines to the country. So far, it has facilitated the clearance of almost 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 20 shipments, as well as the 10,000 shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies.