The pandemic-hit country inched closer to return to normalcy with plans to administer the coronavirus vaccines to workers in the private sector, according to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

Concepcion backed the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) move promoting the vaccination of the economic frontliners, citing its importance to hasten the country's economic recovery.

“Employees in the private sector must understand their crucial part in the whole country getting back to normal, why their getting vaccinated will make a huge impact in accelerating the recovery of the Philippine economy,” Concepcion said in a statement Monday, May 3.

“With this endorsement from the DOLE, we are one step closer to our return to normalcy," said the Go Negosyo founder.

Concepcion, who leads a private sector initiative on vaccine procurement, said the vaccination of workers would provide a "big boost to the economy. He recognized that giving people the coronavirus vaccines was the only way the nation could get through the pandemic.

"(Labor) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello (III) has my full support on this,” he said.

In the recent Labor Day celebration, Bello encouraged employees in the private sector to get their coronavirus vaccines. The labor department's advisory on vaccination covers establishments and employers in the private sector. Thousands of minimum wage earners and overseas Filipino workers got their first dose of coronavirus vaccines during the observance of Labor Day on May 1. They are part of the priority group A4 or the frontline workers in essential services that will receive the vaccines.

Health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities were earlier given priority in the government's free inoculation drive.

The initial batch of coronavirus vaccines procured by the private sector is expected to arrive next month.