Over 1M IPs already vaccinated vs COVID-19
Over 1 million indigenous peoples (IPs) have already been vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said Saturday, Oct. 30.
NCIP medical officer Dr. Angelica Cachola said a total of 1,072, 452 IPs received their doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Sa ngayon, mayroon na po tayong 1,072,457 na nabakunahan na IPs ayon sa talaan ng ating Komisyon (So far , 1,072,457 IPs have already been vaccinated based on our Commission’s records),” she said during the Laging Handa briefing.
She said since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, the NCIP has been extending assistance to the affected IPs, including those who lost their livelihood and who were infected by the viral disease.
“Mula pa po noong nagkaroon ng pandemnya noong nakaraang taon, hindi po tumigil ang ating Komisyon sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga kapatid na katutubo. Sa sitwasyong ganito, mas pinaigting na ng Komisyon ang pagbibigay serbisyo dahil mas kailangan ng katutubong pamayanan ang tulong natin (Ever since the pandemic last year, our Commission has not stopped providing services to our indigenous brothers and sisters. In this situation, the Commission has intensified its provision of services because the indigenous community needs more our assistance),” Cachola said.
She said the assistance has been extended to the IP communities through the IP leaders, and IP mandatory representatives.
“Pinapairal din natin ngayon ang sinasabi natin na whole-of-government approach. Napapahatid po sa katutubong pamayanan ang tulong ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng tulong tulong na koordinasyon ng lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan (We are also now implementing what we call a whole-of-government approach. Government assistance is extended to the indigenous community through the assistance and coordination of all government agencies),” the NCIP official assured.
There are around 14 to 17 million IPs who belong to 110 ethno-linguistic groups.
The NCIP is tasked to implement Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) to ensure that the rights of IPs and indigenous communities are recognised, protected, and promoted.