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Panay residents get free bus rides for COVID-19 vaccinations in Iloilo City

Philippines

Panay residents get free bus rides for COVID-19 vaccinations in Iloilo City

By Tara Yap

ILOILO CITY — Residents of Panay Island were able to get free bus rides going to Iloilo City, wherein the local government unit (LGU) was offering free COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Help is not a question of why but of how. How can we open more avenues to extend our help to our fellow human beings? With compassion, we will not stop extending our aid through highs and lows,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas in a statement Friday, October 22.

This is as the Iloilo City government under Treñas is boosting its offer of free vaccines to non-residents. It initially started for residents of towns in Iloilo province and Guimaras province.

Residents of other parts of Panay Island are seen waiting outside a COVID-19 vaccination site in Iloilo City. The Iloilo City government even offered free bus rides. (Jerry Treñas/Facebook)

The October 22 move is intended for residents of Aklan, Antique and Capiz provinces. That is why the Treñas administration had partnership with Vallacar Transit Inc. that owns the Ceres bus lines and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-6).

Treñas has faced criticisms over the past months that giving away COVID-19 vaccines to other LGUs and opening COVID-19 vaccinations among non-residents is in exchange of gaining votes for the party-list that he founded.

Not only is Treñas seeking reelection as mayor of Iloilo City, he is also campaigning for USWAG Party-list.

In a previous statement, Treñas said he is willing “to go to jail” if giving away vaccines is illegal.

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