DILG orders LGUs to immediately administer COVID jabs to avoid expiration
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all the provincial government to distribute the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to their localities within three days upon receipt of the doses in a bid to prevent them from expiring.
DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said local chief executives (LCE) must ensure that the vaccines must be administered within 15 to 30 days to their intended constituents upon getting the COVID-19 vaccines.
The instruction was stipulated in a memorandum issued by the DILG to the provincial LGUs.
“Ayaw nga natin na mapunta sa sitwasyon na dahil sa pulitika hindi nagagamit kaagad baka umabot sa sitwasyon na mag-expire ang (COVID-19) bakuna at hindi natin magamit (We do not want to be in a situation where because of politics the vaccines were not used immediately and reached the expiry date),’’ Densing said in an interview over DZRH.
Densing pointed out that the expiration of COVID-19 vaccines is considered a mortal sin for the local officials assuring that they will be answerable with charges being filed if these instances occur due to their politicking activities.
He noted that the DILG is closely monitoring the local officials on the ground at this time saying the deartment’s thrust is long term when pressed if the 2022 election will affect the government’s vaccination program.
Although the lawful campaign period starts in March 2022, Densing noted that politicians especially with strong rivals gunning for their posts are now focused on campaigning as early as January.
“Pero sa mga lugar na walang mga kalaban (political bets), tuloy tuloy po yung ating mga local officials sa pagbabakuna. (In areas where they are unopposed, the local officials will continue the (COVID-19) vaccination process,’’ he added.
The DILG official noted that the department is gathering the inventory of the unvaccinated governors and mayors and is tinkering with the idea of publicly exposing them which is a contributory factor to the low vaccine trust rate in their respective jurisdictions. (Chito A. Chavez)