Vice President Leni Robredo spent the second day of the certificates of candidacy (COC) filing not to make an announcement of her poll plans, but to personally supervise her Vaccine Express initiative at Barangay Santa Juliana in Capas, Tarlac for the benefit of the Aeta communities there.
The Aeta communities fall under the government’s A5 category, or the indigent sector of its vaccination program.
A statement from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said they partnered with the municipal government of Capas, Tarlac to inoculate some 500 Aetas with a first dose of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine. The statement did not say what brand of COVID-19 vaccine was administered.
The Vaccine Express program was conducted “as part of a medical caravan for Aetas, who would also receive a free medical check-up, a post-vaccination care kit, and groceries".
The post-vaccination kits include 10 pieces of paracetamol, 10 pieces of Vitamin C, and one bottled water. The Shell Foundation, an Angat Buhay partner, was set to distribute relief goods containing P500 worth of grocery items, 500 care kits, and five kilos of rice for each of the 500 persons.
Angat Buhay is the OVP’s flagship poverty alleviation program.
The Vice President was personally on site on Saturday morning to check the process and thank the local government unit (LGU) personnel, barangay health workers, partners, and volunteers.
She was even photographed with her second daughter, Dr. Tricia Robredo, who joined her mother’s project as one of the medical volunteers.
READ: VP's daughter Tricia administers COVID-19 vaccines in Manila
The Vaccine Express initiative was brought to Capas in response to a request by Aeta Ako, Pilipino Ako Foundation.
The foundation asked for Robredo’s assistance to inoculate Aeta communities “in order to protect them from the virus whenever they visit the town proper for their livelihood".
Vaccine Express was previously rolled out in Manila, Quezon City, Pasig City, all in Metro Manila, as well as in Naga, Camarines Sur San Pedro, Laguna and Magalang, Pampanga.
The initiative in Capas was made possible by the coordination with Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan and the Capas Municipal Health Office.
The OVP also thanked their partners—barangay health workers, Aeta Ako, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, the Health and Development for All Foundation, and medical professionals, among others.
On Thursday, Sept. 30, opposition coalition 1Sambayan endorsed Robredo for the Palace race in the 2022 polls, mentioning her track record, integrity, and patriotism as some of the traits the Philippines need to navigate a post-pandemic world.
READ: Robredo is 1Sambayan candidate for president in 2022 polls
She previously said she wasn’t giving up on her plan to unite the opposition, although 1Sambayan expressed confidence that their endorsement will be a major factor in her decision to run for president.