The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Thursday, May 20, confirmed that there are now 34 higher education institutions (HEIs) that have offered their facilities to the local government units (LGUs) to be used as additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination centers inside school properties.

CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said aside from the 17 HEIs which were already established as vaccination centers in April, another 17 HEIs were added to the list that were established as vaccination sites including:

1.Dr. Yanga’s College
2.Gov. Alfonso D. Tan College
3.Notre Dame of Dadiangas University
4.General Santos Doctors Medical Foundation Inc.
5.Iloilo Science and Technology University
6.John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
7.University of San Agustin
8.Ateneo de Zamboanga University
9.University of the Philippines Los Baños
10.Capiz State University
11.Northern Bukidnon State College
12.Father Saturnino Urios University
13.Butuan Doctors' College
14.Davao Oriental State College Science and Technology
15.Cebu Institute of Technology-University
16.University of Southeastern Philippines
17.University of Immaculate Conception- Bajada Campus

De Vera said that CHED lauds these additional 17 HEIs for “responding to the call for bayanihan by using HEI facilities as vaccination centers so that more people belonging to the priority groups, including our HEI frontliners will be assured of protection.”

In offering its facilities, CapSU President Editha C. Alfon said that the university recognizes the valuable partnership between the university and LGUs in fighting the spread of COVID-19.

“With the expected immunization in the coming months, CapSU will be working closely with the local government health unit of Roxas City to implement this massive vaccination to achieve mass immunity against the virus,” Alfon said.

Meanwhile, ISATU President Raul F. Muyong explained said that the university was inspected by a team of doctors, senior nurses, and the General Service Office Head of Iloilo, and is “now identified as one of the four vaccination sites for COVID-19 immunization by the LGU-Iloilo City.”

Last month, a “Statement of Bayanihan” was signed by De Vera and Union of the Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) National President Gov. Dakila Carlo E. Cua to establish additional vaccination centers inside school properties as the country pushes for expanded immunization.

The 17 HEIs that offered their facilities to serve as vaccination sites of LGUs in April include:

18.Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela
19.Manila Central University
20.University of Perpetual Help System Dalta - Las Piñas Campus
21.De La Salle University - Dasmariñas
22.St. Louis University
23.Central Philippine University
24.West Visayas State University
25.OLFU- San Fernando, Pampanga
26.University of Baguio
27.Benguet State University
28.University of Cebu
29.University of Perpetual Help - Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University
30.OLFU-Quezon City
31.De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute
32.Notre Dame Kidapawan College
33.North Valley College Foundation
34.Cotabato Medical Foundation

De Vera noted that as more HEIs signify their interest to be vaccination sites, the country can maximize the resources it has to strengthen its fight against the current pandemic.

“With this initiative from our HEIs, the country will be assured that when A4 and B1 come in and the bulk of the vaccines arrive, we would have expanded the vaccination centers,” De Vera added.