Local government units (LGUs) with satisfactory vaccination performance rates will be recognized while sub-par performers will initially be provided assistance but would later be investigated if they continue with their luckluster performance in inoculation drive, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said Sunday, Nov. 14.
He said the government is highly appreciative of the LGUs efforts to ramp up their inoculation performances and will be recognized that will qualify them to receive special awards.
But poor performing LGUs will not immediately be penalized as Año revealed that the DILG will first find out what the cause of their below par vaccination accomplishments.
“Dun naman sa mga (LGUs) lagging behind, una muna titingnan muna natin (DILG) bakit ba sila lagging behind. Wala ba silang enough storage facilities? Kulang ba sila ng mga vaccinators? Gaano ba kalayo yung kanilang mga LGUs na mga mababa yung kanilang mga vaccination rate? So tulungan muna natin sila (For LGUs lagging behind, first we will look at why they are lagging behind. Don’t they have enough storage facilities? Do they lack vaccinators? How far are their LGUs that cause their low vaccination rate? So we will help them first),’’ Año explained in a GMA News report.
Año pointed out that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other LGUs will aid the other localities with low vaccination rate performances.
But if the concerned LGUs performed poorly despite the assistance, Año said an investigation is in the offing with the DILG looking for other possible ways to help them improve their vaccination process.
Like the “Bayanihan (civic unity and cooperation)’’ system, Año noted that there are LGUs willing to provide assistance to the adjacent neighboring localities having a difficult time in their vaccination process.
“Halimbawa itong National Capital Region (NCR) ay tutulong na sila para sa Region 4-A at saka Region 3 mga karatig nila yan (For example this National Capital Region will assist Region 4-A and Region 3),’’ he added.
The DILG chief said that many people from these regions are going back and forth in Metro Manila which he referred to as “crossover.’’
He added in the “National Vaccination Day’’ unregistered persons may register in other localities where they can be vaccinated stressing that the process has been simplified to cater to those without cellular phones or with inadequate technical ability can be registered for inoculation. (Chito A. Chavez)